College football league winners, losers: Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame could prove costly for Irish

Penultimate College football league standings was released on Tuesday, five days before the actual four-team pitch will be set up after Saturday’s championship. Michigan jumped to 2nd place after the previous big win Ohio State, when Oklahoma State slipped into the top five after delivery Oklahoma second loss of the season. Georgia, of course, registered in 1st place while the SEC Championship game was the enemy Alabama in 3rd place.

So who are the winners and losers in the penultimate edition of College football Playoff leaderboard? Let’s break them down.

Winner: Oklahoma State

It may not look this way, but the Cowboys control their own destiny. Victory number 9 Baylor – however it seems – will be enough to jump Cincinnati and anyone else based on Saturday’s results to make the top four.

CFP selection committee chairman Gary Barta said on television that the committee found it difficult to separate Alabama, Cincinnati and Oklahoma. If the Pokes top the Bears for a second time this year and land a second straight win in the top 14 to close the season in the process, that would be more than enough to overtake a Bearcats team that already had a day at the top. 21st place Houston in the AAC Championship Game.

Even if Georgia loses and only has one slot left for Oklahoma State and Cincinnati, Mike Gundy’s crew will get the nod. The combination of a tougher conference championship game and a great closing argument for a team that has flown under watch all season will get the job done. In addition, the committee has really Want to put a Group of Five in the knockout round? Are not.

As if the sudden loss of coach wasn’t enough, Notre Dame was dealt a savage blow when it was jumped by the State of Oklahoma. Now Kelly’s former team faces a head-to-head loss to Cincinnati and a Cowboys team has a chance to win the top 10 this weekend in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Notre Dame can’t make a closing argument because it won’t play this weekend, while its two biggest threats do. Plus, committee chair Gary Barta went deeper into how Kelly’s absence could play a role in how Irish outsiders look on.

“This week, it didn’t apply because the games took place and were judged on those games,” he said. “Once the championship games are over … the protocol actually includes the possibility for the committee to consider a player or coach who is not present. If that has an effect on the outcome of a game. fighting, that could be considered. At that point, we’ll have to wait and see how that factor.”

Sorry, Notre Dame. It won’t happen.

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Winner: Michigan

There has been some debate over whether Michigan deserves the No. 2 spot over Alabama since the Crimson Tide struggled with an underrated Auburn team on Saturday. The Wolverines are at the top, which makes it possible for them to move up to No. 1 if Georgia falters. Of course, that would change the debate between the Wolverines and the Crimson Tide about the top seed.

Does that #1 rank matter? Of course. Cincinnati, Notre Dame or Oklahoma State are likely 4th place picks, all of which are better pairings than other teams in the competition – especially if Alabama causes a nasty upset in the Infinite Game SEC enemy.

Reasonable Michigan has earned immense respect following a 42-27 win over the Buckeyes, and will be a turning point for the 2nd seed with a chance to take 1st place should chaos ensue.

Loser: Baylor

What if there was total chaos, such as Alabama beating Georgia, Iowa beat Michigan and Houston beat Cincinnati? Theoretically, a Big 12 champ loses two, Baylor could have a case if there’s enough traffic in front of it. There can’t be that much traffic for the Ninth Bears to have a shot.

Ohio State and Notre Dame are not competing, Georgia is likely to defy the outcome of the SEC Championship Game and, even in the hypothetical chaos scenario detailed above, the committee will have to weigh reminds me of a loss to Cincinnati with a head-to-head record -before a win over Fighting Irish. That’s too many mines.

Baylor wouldn’t have enough respect to make it to the top four, even if it beat Oklahoma State 100-0.