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CFP Rankings: Ohio State No. 8, Alabama benefits from weak SEC

By Charlie Lockhart

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches warm ups before the start of their game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches warm ups before the start of their game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Does Ohio State have a chance to make the College Football Playoff?

Ohio State moved up to No. 8 in this week’s College Football playoff rankings. Alabama is ranked No. 5 and appears to be in fine shape to make the playoff.

That’s assuming Ohio State defeats Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship and it’s a battle for the final spot. If the Badgers win they will be in the final four. But what if they don’t?

Then it will probably be between the Crimson Tide who now stands at 11-1 while the Buckeyes will be 11-2. The two teams’ records are not surprising because Ohio State went through a difficult stretch at the end of the season while Alabama just had to play weak SEC teams for the most part before facing Auburn.

Except of course for the FCS team the Crimson Tide played the week before the Iron Bowl.

All of the talk by media pundits is whether the Buckeyes should make the playoff even if they win the Big Ten Championship because of the bad loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. But take a look at what they will have accomplished.

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Ohio State will have defeated three teams ranked in the top 13, Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin. And defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor. While the Wolverines aren’t ranked, their only losses came to the four Big Ten teams ranked in the top 13.

Now compare that resume to the Crimson Tide’s.

Alabama won the first 11 games with no bad loss but without a signature win. Auburn is the only top 15 ranked team they played and that game ended in a loss. 

And in their important rivalry games, Auburn manhandled Alabama late in the game while Ohio State scored the last 17 points to pull out a win over Michigan. And did so with backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins at the helm.

Next: Ohio State needs help to make the College Football Playoff again

It just seems like the Committee already has the Crimson Tide penciled in for the last playoff spot if it’s between them and the Buckeyes. I just hope the members will wait until the Big Ten Championship Game is actually played, and then take a look at the overall situation, before coming to a conclusion over which team should be included.

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