College Football Playoff 2019: What do Week 11 rankings mean for Big 12?

The Big 12 placed four teams in the first College Football Playoff rankings. What does this mean for the conference’s chances at landing in the top four?

The Big 12’s position in the first CFP rankings puts it in an interesting place heading into Week 11 action. In the first CFP rankings released for the 2019 season, the conference has four teams ranked in the Top 25: No. 9 Oklahoma (7-1), No. 12 Baylor (8-0), No. 16 Kansas State (6-2), and No. 23 Oklahoma State (6-3). Based on who’s receiving votes in the AP and/or Coaches Polls, it can be assumed that Texas (5-3) and Iowa State (5-3) are knocking on the door.

The Cowboys, despite ranking as the No. 30 and No. 32 team in terms of votes received by the AP and Coaches Polls, are a slight surprise to make it in this year’s first CFP Top 25. They are the only squad with three losses to be ranked in this Top 25. Why does OSU’s ranking matter for the Big 12?

If Alabama loses to LSU this weekend, defeats Auburn in the Iron Bowl, and finishes with one loss, it will have exactly one victory over a ranked team the way things stand right now. OU could finish the season with three such victories. Baylor could finish with four.

Clearly, Penn State’s two ranked victories (vs. No. 14 Michigan and No. 18 Iowa) are propelling the Nittany Lions over Clemson, for the moment.

The defending national champions are, just like the Crimson Tide, also without a win over a ranked team. The Tigers’ only shot for a ranked win may come against Wake Forest in Week 12. The Demon Deacons (7-1) are currently ranked No. 19.

Interestingly enough, Texas A&M’s fate may help the case of both Alabama and Clemson. In the preseason, we were all aware that the Aggies (6-3) would face one of the nation’s toughest schedules.

Currently, A&M has three losses — to No. 3 Alabama, No. 5 Clemson, and No. 11 Auburn. If the Aggies can pull an upset against either No. 6 Georgia or No. 2 LSU in the final two weeks of the regular season, an 8-4 squad with their schedule could easily make a case for the CFP’s Top 25. That, in turn, would give Clemson and Alabama another ranked victory as a notch in their belts to present to the CFP committee.

It’s a possibility that the Big 12 champion could be in competition with a one-loss Pac-12 champion for the fourth and final CFP spot at season’s end. Currently, neither Oregon nor Utah own any wins against ranked teams. A win over the other, though, in the Pac-12 Championship Game would give either the Ducks or the Utes one ranked victory.

For the Big 12’s top two teams of the moment, Baylor and OU: win out, and you’ve got a good chance to be included. The Bears and the Sooners are the current favorites to meet in the Big 12 Championship Game. If Kansas State wins out and OU loses to Baylor, however, it could be a Baylor-Kansas State meeting for the conference title, as the Wildcats would own a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Sooners.