Saturday concludes the programming of the conference championship, in addition to other games of the regular season. Earlier in the day, Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State took the top four places (in that order) in the College Football Playoff rankings, with Texas A&M in fifth place.
The top five haven’t changed since the College Football playoff committee began posting the weekly ranking on Nov. 24.
The committee will launch its four-team playoff selections on Sunday (two weeks later than originally planned), with the playoff semifinals scheduled for New Year’s Day and the championship game on Jan. 11.
But even if the top four teams end up being familiar, this has been a far cry from a typical season, as the pandemic turned the sport upside down, like so many other things, seemingly upside down.
“Covid has changed all of our lives, but it hasn’t changed our protocol at the CFP,” Gary Barta, chair of the college football playoff selection committee, said Nov. 24. “Let’s take a look at each team’s record of wins / losses. We see the strength of the calendar face to face, the games played with common opponents, and finally we’ll see those who become conference champions.”
This season, the committee will score teams that played up to six games and up to eleven, with conferences like the Big Ten starting the season in late October and the Pac-12 in early November. The Big 12, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference began in September.
Did Ohio State’s No. 4 do enough?
One such team that only played six games is Ohio State. On Saturday, 22 players fell, the Buckeyes won from behind to defeat No. 14 Northwestern 22-10 to win the Big Ten title.
At 6-0, Ohio State, one of Covid-19’s many troubled programs this season, had to cancel its game against Illinois earlier this season, while two other schools (Maryland and Michigan ) had to cancel against the Buckeyes due to their own Covid-19 Concerns.
“I won’t talk about other teams because I think we have enough to talk positively about our program,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day told reporters Saturday. “But I’ll say this. If we get a chance to play anyone in the country in a game, I’m going to take the Ohio State Buckeyes. I feel strongly for that team. We’re made of an amazing character and so many things have happened.”
Currently out there is Texas A&M (8-1), which they lost only to Alabama, 52-24. This loss prevented the Aggies from reaching the SEC championship, a key component for the committee. Alabama, top-ranked (10-0), faces Florida’s No. 7 (8-2) in the SEC title game Saturday night.
“Seven consecutive SEC wins,” said Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, who claimed his case after his team defeated Tennessee 34-13 Saturday. “Some schools don’t even play in seven games. Win seven in a row in the SEC and win eight in the overall. I don’t care what league you’re in. I don’t care what anyone says. If you want to pick the top four teams , we are one of them “.
Meanwhile, possibly half of the playoff field could have played in the ACC title match between Clemson and Notre Dame.
Before the competition, Clemson’s only loss was in the double overtime on the road against the Irish Fighting – and that’s when Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sidelined due to the Covid-19 protocol.
Saturday’s sequel, however, wasn’t close. Led by Lawrence, Clemson won 34-10. Both teams are now 10-1.
Could the Rose Bowl be held outside of California?
The playoff semifinals are scheduled to take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. But with California’s latest restrictions, the use of the iconic Rose Bowl site could be in jeopardy.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Hancock said the hope is for the state to allow families to attend the Rose Bowl. Hancock did not give a timeline on when a decision would have to be made to move this semifinal to another location if families are not allowed to.
“Given the realities of 2020, we always reserve the right to make decisions as late as possible,” Hancock said. “For example, what if the state of California turns off completely and doesn’t allow any play? So we’re on the lookout for the situation, but we plan to play this semifinal in the Rose Bowl.”
Could a team turn down a place in the playoffs if families are not allowed to attend?
“I’m not sure we’ll play in the playoffs if the parents can’t be there, to be honest with you,” head coach Brian Kelly told coach Friday. Kelly supported moving the semifinal to the Rose Bowl to a different location.
The national championship game is scheduled to be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.