How does Miami loss impact the College Football Playoff rankings?
No. 2 Miami football was upset by Pitt in Week 13 sending the College Football Playoff picture into chaos. Who stands to benefit the most from the Canes’ fall?
Miami trailed unranked Virginia at half time a week ago. It took a fourth quarter rally for the Canes to come away with the victory over Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers. The resiliency was rewarded by the College Football Playoff Committee who bumped the Hurricanes up from No. 3 to No. 2 entering the final weekend of the regular season.
They Canes were not so fortunate this week. Undefeated Miami fell on the road to unranked Pitt. Miami will still meet 1-loss Clemson in the ACC title game, but their Playoff hopes just took a significant hit.
Top 10 – Week 13 College Football Playoff Rankings
- Alabama
- Miami
- Clemson
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Penn State
The College Football Playoff Rankings are different from the AP Poll. Losing a game, even this late in the season, doesn’t guaranteed a significant drop. The committee promises to look at an entire body of work. The ACC Champion, whether that be Clemson or Miami, will walk away with just one loss. That’s likely enough to keep them in the field, but the loser won’t be as fortunate.
In the interim, Wisconsin should be elevated into the top four. The Badgers might not have had the toughest schedule, but they’ve managed to run through without a blemish. That’s something that Miami and Clemson can’t say.
Oklahoma should have no trouble with West Virginia in Week 13 who are without their starting quarterback Will Grier. That means, for the time being, the Sooners will stay in the top four too. Here’s what the College Football Playoff Rankings should look like entering Week 14.
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft entering Week 13
Week 13 isn’t done just yet. If Auburn is able to upset the Tide the rankings will get much more difficult to determine. One of those two teams will be in the top four, who that is remains to be seen.