Breaking Down The Current CFP Top 25

[SelectionSunday]

I've added a brief note for each of the top 10 teams. My 4 quick takes after the rankings & numbers. ...

CFP Top 25 (12/1/15)
1 Clemson (12-0): 2-0 vs. top 25. Both games in Clemson.
2 Alabama (11-1): 2-1 vs. top 25. All 3 games in Tuscaloosa.
3 Oklahoma (11-1): 4-0 vs. top 25. 3 of the 4 wins came on the road.
4 Iowa (12-0): 1-0 vs. top 25. Win came on the road.
5 Michigan State (11-1): 3-0 vs. top 25. 2 of the 3 wins came on the road.
6 Ohio State (11-1): 1-1 vs. top 25. Win came on the road, loss at home.
7 Stanford (10-2): 2-2 vs. top 25. Split 2 on the road, split 2 at home.
8 Notre Dame (10-2): 3-2 vs. top 25. 1 of the 3 wins came on the road.
9 Florida State (10-2): 1-1 vs. top 25. Both games on the road.
10 North Carolina (11-1): 0-0 vs. top 25. Nary a game vs. the top 25.

11 TCU (10-2): 1-2 vs. top 25.
12 Baylor (10-2): 1-2 vs. top 25
13 Ole Miss (9-3): 2-1 vs. top 25.
14 Northwestern (10-2): 1-2 vs. top 25.
15 Michigan (9-3): 1-3 vs. top 25.
16 Oregon (9-3): 2-2 vs. top 25.
17 Oklahoma State (10-2): 1-2 vs. top 25.
18 Florida (10-2): 2-2 vs. top 25.
19 Houston (11-1): 1-0 vs. top 25
20 USC (8-4): 1-3 vs. top 25.
21 LSU (8-3): 1-2 vs. top 25.
22 Temple (10-2): 0-1 vs. top 25.
23 Navy (9-2): 0-2 vs. top 25.
24 Utah (9-3): 2-1 vs. top 25
25 Tennessee (8-4): 0-3 vs. top 25.

Top 25 Head-to-Head Results
#1 Clemson 24, #8 Notre Dame 22
#1 Clemson 23, #9 Florida State 13
#13 Ole Miss 43, @ #2 Alabama 37
#2 Alabama 19, #25 Tennessee 14
#2 Alabama 30, #21 LSU 16
#3 Oklahoma 31, @ #25 Tennessee 24
#3 Oklahoma 44, @ #12 Baylor 34
#3 Oklahoma 30, #11 TCU 29
#3 Oklahoma 58, @ #17 Oklahoma State 23
#4 Iowa 40, @ #14 Northwestern 10
#5 Michigan State 31, #16 Oregon 28
#5 Michigan State 27, @ #15 Michigan 23
#5 Michigan State 17, @ #6 Ohio State 14
#6 Ohio State 42, @ #15 Michigan 13
#14 Northwestern 16, #7 Stanford 6
#7 Stanford 41, @ #20 USC 31
#16 Oregon 38, @ #7 Stanford 36
#7 Stanford 38, #8 Notre Dame 36
#8 Notre Dame 41, #23 Navy 24
#8 Notre Dame 41, #20 USC 31
#8 Notre Dame 24, @ #22 Temple 20
#9 Florida State 27, @ #18 Florida 2
#17 Oklahoma State 49, #11 TCU 29
#11 TCU 28, #12 Baylor 21
#12 Baylor 45, @ #17 Oklahoma State 35
#18 Florida 38, #13 Ole Miss 10
#13 Ole Miss 38, #21 LSU 17
#15 Michigan 38, #14 Northwestern 0
#24 Utah 24, #15 Michigan 17
#24 Utah 62, @ #16 Oregon 20
#16 Oregon 48, #20 USC 28
#18 Florida 28, #25 Tennessee 27
#21 LSU 35, #18 Florida 28
#19 Houston 52, #23 Navy 31
#20 USC 42, #24 Utah 24

Losses By Teams In CFP Contention (‘Bama, Oklahoma, MSU, OSU, Stanford, UNC)
#2 Alabama lost 37-43 in Tuscaloosa to #13 Ole Miss
#3 Oklahoma lost 17-24 in Dallas to unranked Texas
#5 Michigan State lost 38-39 in Lincoln to unranked Nebraska
#6 Ohio State lost 14-17 in Columbus to #5 Michigan State
#7 Stanford lost 6-16 in Evanston to #14 Northwestern
#7 Stanford lost 36-38 in Palo Alto to #16 Oregon
#10 North Carolina lost 13-17 in Charlotte to unranked South Carolina

Quick Takes
1 North Carolina has ZERO chance to make the CFP, even if it destroys Clemson.

2 Ohio State should consider it a gift if it makes the CFP. I'd take a 2-loss/conference champion Stanford and/or a 1-loss Clemson (unless the Tigers get killed by UNC) if it came down to those 3 for the final CFP spot. OSU looked great in one game (its last one), and that's about all I can point to on their resume. So they're the defending CFP champs. ... BFD. That has nothing to do with 2015.

3 I have to ask, among the 1-loss teams why is Alabama ranked the highest? (see next)

4 The resumes of Oklahoma (1A) and Michigan State (1B) stand out above others because of the quality and number of their road wins. The Sooners have 3 (@ Baylor, @ Oklahoma State, @ Tennessee), Sparty has 2 (@ Ohio State, @ Michigan).

Any other observations? Agree? Disagree?

 

[RunGopherRun]

It pains me to even say this, and it came about in my head from trying to justify the Gophers sub-par season, but I'm a bit surprised Wisconsin isn't ranked. Only 3 losses, but they are to #2 Alabama, #4 Iowa, and #14 Northwestern. I guess I just wanted Wisky to be ranked so I could say the gophers were 5-7 this year, but 6 losses were to ranked teams in final CFP ranking. I little justification for a bad season never hurt...

 

[Jike Spingleton]

Don't be surprised if Wisky shows up in the final standings on Sunday. #20 USC and #22 Temple are both underdogs in their conference title games.

I get what you're saying, though, on justifying this season. I still feel good about the prospects for next season, given better health and a more favorable slate.