Tensions are high and controversy is ramping up around the College Football Playoff rankings with less than three weeks left before the field is set on Selection Sunday.
Part of this week’s debate centered on the status of Indiana, which has a schedule short on quality opponents but long on victories. The Hoosiers are unbeaten heading into its showdown with Ohio State. But could the SEC earn a fifth spot in the field should they lose convincingly? How that shakes out could not just impact this year’s playoff but how the format is shaped in the future.
The other flash point comes with regard to the possibility of Boise State earning a first-round bye as one of the four highest-rated conference champions. The Broncos are currently ahead of every Big 12 team and in front of all but Miami from the ACC. Results in the coming weeks will decide how this all shakes out.
That leads us to Week 13. We already have the aforementioned Ohio State-Indiana showdown in the Big Ten that will bring more clarity to the conference race. Notre Dame and Army are playing at Yankee Stadium in a game nobody thought would have playoff implications. The Big 12 also will start to sort itself out after Brigham Young travels to Arizona State.
Who will emerge victorious? Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg address these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COVERAGE
WHO’S UP AND DOWN?:Winners and losers from this week’s playoff rankings
BAMBOOZLED: Why is the playoff committee so enthralled by Notre Dame?
BIG BUCKEYES FANS: Why the SEC is rooting for Ohio State against Indiana
BOWL PROJECTIONS: Alabama, Colorado make major moves in playoff
CALM DOWN: The five biggest college football overreactions from Week 12
