How in the world is Ohio State ranked ahead of Oklahoma when they both have one loss and the Sooners had their way with the Buckeyes earlier this season? That’s been the question ever since the Buckeyes jumped the Sooners in the AP and Coaches Poll.
Thankfully, the College Football Playoff Committee doesn’t think that’s right either. The first Playoff rankings of the season were announced on Tuesday night, and the Sooners not only came in ahead of Ohio State, they lead the Big 12. Though, if the playoff was this week, they would be on the outside looking in at fifth in the rankings. TCU, Oklahoma State and Iowa State were also ranked in the top 15.
So what do the first rankings tell us? That the Big 12 is sitting in a pretty good position. The Sooners may be on the outside looking in right now, but Alabama-Georgia problem will eventually take care of itself. That would theoretically move OU to fourth, behind Notre Dame. Though, you have to wonder how far the loser of the SEC matchup would fall.
Ideally, the Big 12 would need Notre Dame to lose one more time as well. If that happens, the conference is all but in. Even if Oklahoma loses. As long as TCU or Oklahoma State run the table the rest of the way through, either should be there in the end as they’ll pick up some big time wins between now and then.
The team the Big 12 should be the most worried about right now is actually in the Big 12, and that is Iowa State. The Cyclones have big wins over the Sooners and the Horned Frogs and currently control the conference. However, they already have two losses, which would most likely keep them, and the Big 12, out of the playoff should Iowa State run the rest of their slate.
