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CFP Rankings: Ohio State 13, Notre Dame at No.3 could keep Big Ten out?

By Charlie Lockhart

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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It was obvious Ohio State would be dropped from the Top 10 in the CFP rankings, but why is Wisconsin ranked so low?

After the bad road loss to Iowa, Ohio State dropped to No. 13 in the CFP rankings this week. 9-0 Wisconsin is at No. 8 and Notre Dame holds the No. 3 spot with an 8-1 record. Could the Irish be penciled into the playoff if they win out, and the Big Ten shut out?

The Badgers are the only conference team left with a chance to make the playoff and are ranked below three other undefeated teams. They are also behind three teams from the ACC and Big 12 who have one loss apiece. Even if Wisconsin wins the last three regular season games and the Big Ten Championship Game, will that be enough to be included in the Final Four?

You would think it would be, but the Playoff Committee doesn’t seem to put as much stock in a team being undefeated at this late stage in the season as one might think they would. Unless of course it’s an SEC team.

If Wisconsin doesn’t run the table the last three games of the regular season but still wins the Big Ten Championship, the Badgers will probably be left out of the playoff. It would be a shame if that’s the case and Notre Dame makes it into the final four with fewer wins, and not having to play a conference title game.

Or if a two loss conference champion is included in the playoff ahead of Wisconsin, which some have speculated could be the case if Auburn wins from here on out. Another scenario, Alabama and Georgia are undefeated when they meet in the conference championship game and it’s a narrow victory by one team. Two SEC teams make the playoff?

Anyway, here are the CFP rankings this week.

  • Georgia
  • Alabama
  • Notre Dame
  • Clemson
  • Oklahoma
  • TCU
  • Miami
  • Wisconsin
  • Washington
  • Auburn

    • More from Scarlet and Game

    USC

  • Michigan State
  • Ohio State
  • Penn State
  • Oklahoma State
  • Mississippi State
  • Virginia Tech
  • UCF
  • Washington State
  • Iowa
  • Iowa State
  • Memphis
  • NC State
  • LSU
  • Northwestern

    • Big football games on tap Saturday could change the College Football Playoff landscape. As far as important Big Ten games, my eyes will be on Ohio State-Michigan State, for personal reasons, and the Wisconsin-Iowa game. But other games outside of the conference will be extremely important ones.

    Next: Remainder of season about Buckeye pride

    Georgia and Auburn go at it, Notre Dame will take on undefeated Miami and Oklahoma faces TCU. Huge games with playoff implications.

    It should be an exciting weekend of college football. That is usually the case this time of year when teams prove whether they are contenders or simply pretenders.

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