Undefeated After Week 13

The only two unbeaten teams did what they had to do last weekend, as #1 Clemson held off in-state rival South Carolina, 37-32, and #4 Iowa topped Nebraska in Lincoln, 28-20. 

The top four of the College Football Playoff rankings didn't change, as we head into Championship Weekend.  For shits and giggles, here are the top ten in this week's College Football Playoff rankings (along with each team's wins against teams currently in the CFB Playoff Top 25 and all losses, where applicable):

1.  Clemson (12-0)

Wins against Top 25:  #8 Notre Dame (10/3; 24-22); #9 Florida State (11/7; 23-13)

Losses:  None

2.  Alabama (11-1)

Wins against Top 25:  #21 LSU (11/7; 30-16); #25 Tennessee (10/24; 19-14)

Losses:  #13 Ole Miss (9/19; 43-37)

3.  Oklahoma (11-1)

Wins against Top 25:  #11 Baylor (11/21; 30-29); at #12 Baylor (11/14; 44-34); at #17 Oklahoma State (11/28; 58-23); at #25 Tennessee (9/12; 31-24)

Losses: at Texas (10/17; 24-17)

4.  Iowa (12-0)

Wins against Top 25:  at #14 Northwestern (10/17; 40-10)

Losses:  None
5.  Michigan State (11-1)
Wins against Top 25:  at #6 Ohio State (11/21; 17-14); at #15 Michigan (10/19; 27-23); #16 Oregon (9/12; 31-28)
Losses:  Nebraska (11/7; 39-38)
6.  Ohio State (11-1)
Wins against Top 25:  #15 Michigan (11/28; 42-13)
Losses:  #5 Michigan State (11/21; 17-14)
7.  Stanford (10-2)
Wins against Top 25:  #8 Notre Dame (11/28; 38-36); at #20 USC (9/19; 41-31)
Losses:  at #14 Northwestern (9/5; 16-6); #16 Oregon (11/14; 38-36)
8.  Notre Dame (10-2)
Wins against Top 25:  #20 USC (10/17; 41-31); at #22 Temple (10/31; 24-20); #23 Navy (10/10; 41-24)
Losses:  at #1 Clemson (10/3; 24-22); at #7 Stanford (11/28; 38-36)
9.  Florida State (10-2)
Wins against Top 25:  at #18 Florida (11/28; 27-2)

Losses:  at Georgia Tech (10/24; 22-16); at #1 Clemson (11/7; 23-13)

10.  North Carolina (11-1)

Wins against Top 25:  None

Losses:  at South Carolina (9/3; 17-13)

I was happy to see Notre Dame lose to Stanford, as my Facebook feed is now noticeably void of ND fans bitching about how the Irish dropped out of the top four.  Oklahoma finished it's fantastic three-week run by beating arch rival Oklahoma State in Stillwater.  Without a Big 12 title game, the Sooners can't lose, so I think they are in the playoff no matter what happens this weekend with the other teams.

But let's talk about the CFB Playoff Committee's nightmare scenario:  North Carolina beats Clemson in the ACC Championship game, Florida beats Alabama in the SEC Championship game, and Michigan State beats Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game.  That would leave both Clemson and North Carolina with one loss in the ACC, Alabama with two losses (which would likely shut the SEC out of the playoff), and Iowa, Michigan State, and Ohio State with one loss in the Big Ten.  That would mean there would six Power Five one-loss teams:  Clemson, Iowa, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Oklahoma.  And then Alabama, Stanford, Notre Dame, and Florida State in the Top 10 with two losses, not to mention Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Florida.  No matter what the Committee were to do, it would be wrong.  On the bright side, that might get us an 8-team playoff in the future.

Here is a breakdown of the undefeated teams and each team's remaining game and best win (rankings are CFB Playoff Committee rankings):

#1 Clemson 12-0

12/5 – #10 North Carolina (11-1) (.917) (ACC championship game in Charlotte)

Best win:  #8 Notre Dame (10/3; 24-22)

#4 Iowa 12-0

12/5 – #5 Michigan State (11-1) (.917) (Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis)

Best win:  at #14 Northwestern (10/17; 40-10)