The question now becomes: what do we make of Florida State?
The Seminoles are winning and haven’t lost all season, the only unbeaten Power 5 team. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?
Or maybe the week after week of too-close-for-comfort wins is beginning to take its toll on a College Football Playoff selection committee that is splitting hairs between viable one-loss candidates that clearly are playing better than FSU (see: Baylor, TCU, Ohio State).
A look at this week’s Four In, Four Out:
1. Oregon: A laugher against Colorado, and another game that clearly illustrates how well this team is playing and how the Ducks have found their stride on both sides of the ball. But there’s plenty left for Oregon, including a road game against a bitter rival (Oregon State) and the Pac-12 Championship Game against one of three capable teams, including the one team that beat the Ducks this season (Arizona). Up next: at Oregon State.
2. Alabama: The Tide found a way to get through a meaningless non-conference game, but got dinged up. Four starters, including star WR Amari Cooper and LT Cam Robinson, sustained injuries. All four likely will play, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be affected by the injuries (it’s late in the season, every ding hurts more, lasts longer). More danger: Auburn has played poorly over the last three weeks, and can save its season against the Tide. Up next: vs. Auburn.
3. Baylor: The Bears scored 49 points in the cold and rain, but who knows how the CFP committee will see it? They could just as easy see it negatively for giving up 28 points to a team playing a true freshman quarterback. They’re still playing a beauty pageant game, and they still need points. A lot of them. Up next: vs. Texas Tech (Arlington, Texas).
4. Florida State: It’s time to just accept FSU for what it is: a team that slogs through games and finds a way to win in the fourth quarter. Maybe that will change next week against rival Florida, maybe the Gators will get FSU’s attention like no other. If not, Florida has the power run game and salty defense to push the Seminoles to the fourth quarter like everyone else. Up next: vs. Florida.
5. Mississippi State: The LSU win doesn’t look so good. Nor does the Auburn win. Or the Texas A&M win. Remember those three games that made everyone think the Bulldogs were undisputed No. 1? And now look: A win over Ole Miss (now three-loss Ole Miss) may not be enough either. They’re all very good wins, but when you’re breaking down wins and losses, everyone’s schedule will be scrutinized.
6. TCU: The further we get to the end of the season, the more the Baylor loss looms for TCU, which can’t do anything to erase that from the resume — as long as the Bears keep winning. Eventually, TCU will fall below Baylor with all things being equal. All the Horned Frogs can do is win and win impressively. They’ll have Thursday Night all to themselves; time to show everyone what they’re all about. Up next: at Texas (Thursday).
7. Ohio State: The worst thing that happened to Ohio State this weekend wasn’t a too close for CFP comfort win over Indiana. It was Virginia Tech’s loss at a truly awful Wake Forest team. The same Virginia Tech that beat Ohio State by 14 in Columbus in September (and it wasn’t that close). The Buckeyes need Wisconsin to beat Minnesota next week and then need to beat the Badgers big in the Big Ten Championship Game. Up next: Michigan.
8. UCLA: This is how it works for the Bruins: beat Stanford next week, and earn a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game and get another shot at Oregon (which beat UCLA 42-30 in October). And since crazier things have happened, there’s still an outside chance the Bruins could make it to the CFP semifinals if chaos unfolds in front of them. Up next: Stanford.