The penultimate set of College Football Playoff rankings is out, and the selection committee provided one more peek into its thought process before decision day. Here are five observations about the latest set of rankings.
1. Ohio State and Stanford remain in decent shape.
The Buckeyes and Cardinal need help to get in the playoff, but both teams enter the final week with more than a glimmer of hope. Like last season, Ohio State left the committee with its strongest impression in its final game, crushing No. 15 Michigan last Saturday in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes certainly look like a top-four team, but their overall resume doesn't measure up to other contenders, including Stanford if it wins the Pac-12.
The Cardinal will face another ranked opponent, No. 20 USC, after scoring their best win of the season against No. 8 Notre Dame. Although North Carolina would have the best win among this group if it upsets No. 1 Clemson, Stanford's overall profile, mixing some dominant performances and signature wins, could be enough to earn it the fourth spot.
2. North Carolina must crush Clemson to enter the top four.
Tar Heels fans are hoping that a win against Clemson could open the door for a rise into the top four. But the committee seems to still be unimpressed by what UNC has done, keeping the Tar Heels at No. 10, behind three two-loss teams, including fellow ACC member Florida State. A victory Saturday gives North Carolina an ACC championship, a 12-game winning streak and nine wins against league opponents. But it might not be enough, as a bad, non-league loss to South Carolina and an odd schedule that includes two FCS opponents keep dragging down the Heels.
It probably will take a convincing victory against the Tigers, combined with a Stanford loss to USC, to give North Carolina a realistic chance. The Heels still would have to vault Ohio State, the ultimate eye-test team, to get in. UNC is capable of beating Clemson, but the Heels also should be looking for style points in Charlotte.
3. Alabama is the SEC's only playoff hope.
Remember when the SEC bragged about getting two or even three teams into the four-team playoff? It has been a rough season for the prideful conference, which needs Alabama to beat Florida in Atlanta to secure a playoff spot. Florida fell all the way to No. 18 after producing just two points in last week's home loss to Florida State. The points-challenged Gators aren't a playoff team, even if they shock everyone by upsetting Alabama.
The Tide need to handle their business Saturday. Otherwise, the mighty SEC will be sitting out the playoff and missing a national championship for the third consecutive season. What a blow that would be.
4. The AAC title game will decide a New Year's Six bowl spot.
The American Athletic Conference undoubtedly has been the nation's premier Group of 5 conference, and its title game will determine which Group of 5 team earns the golden ticket to a New Year's Six bowl. Houston and Temple, ranked Nos. 19 and 22, respectively, meet in the AAC title game Saturday.
Toledo could have been a factor if it had advanced to the MAC title game after re-entering the rankings at No. 24 last week. But the Rockets were upset by Western Michigan last Friday and lost any chance of competing for a New Year's Six bowl.
5. The Big Ten title-game loser could miss out on the Rose Bowl.
The Rose Bowl isn't a national semifinal this year, but it will never be seen as a consolation prize in the Big Ten. The league is assured a playoff spot, but which of its teams will head to Pasadena? The Rose Bowl expects to select the next-highest-ranked Big Ten team outside the top four.
Since Ohio State sits at No. 6, it could be tough for the Big Ten championship loser to remain ahead of the Buckeyes. Iowa, ranked No. 4, hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1991, but the Hawkeyes probably would have to push Michigan State to the brink to avoid falling below the Buckeyes. Michigan State, only one spot ahead of Ohio State in Tuesday's rankings, almost certainly would fall below the Buckeyes with a loss to Iowa on Saturday night.