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College Football Playoff Rankings 2015, Week 12: Who got snubbed?

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back LeShun Daniels Jr. (29) heads for the end zone on a 51 yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back LeShun Daniels Jr. (29) heads for the end zone on a 51 yard touchdown run during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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The week 12 College Football Playoff rankings for 2015 have finally been released and we just found out that the top four teams remain the same from a week ago while the pool of unbeaten squads keeps on shrinking.

No surprise as the No. 1 team in the country remains the Clemson Tigers, No. 2 is still Alabama, the third-best team is Ohio State and rounding out the top-four is none other than Notre Dame — a team in which many people believe is highly overrated.

It’s still a bit early to complain about which teams have been unfairly left out of the top four spots, but there’s still room for discussion.

Let’s take a look at which three teams I believe are good enough to make the top-four and may be considered snubs at this point — yes, even a couple of one-loss teams.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Nov 14, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; The Oklahoma State Cowboys players sing to fans after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 35-31 at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; The Oklahoma State Cowboys players sing to fans after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 35-31 at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Every good team has a scare from an inferior opponent, and Oklahoma State is no different as it took a fourth quarter comeback in order for the Cowboys to defeat Iowa State on Saturday. No matter, though, as many can argue that an unbeaten Oklahoma State team clicking on all cylinders and actually in a conference is better than a one-loss Independent Notre Dame squad.

We are going to learn a lot about this team in the next two weeks as we will really find out if Oklahoma State has been snubbed. The Cowboys play Baylor and Oklahoma to round out a grueling finish to the year.

Oklahoma Sooners

Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners safety Ahmad Thomas (13) and linebacker Devante Bond (23) and cornerback Stanvon Taylor (6) celebrate the interception by Thomas against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners safety Ahmad Thomas (13) and linebacker Devante Bond (23) and cornerback Stanvon Taylor (6) celebrate the interception by Thomas against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma might be my favorite one-loss team right now, and that includes over Alabama. The Sooners have one of the worst losses of any one-loss team, losing to Texas, but they also have been just demolishing every other opponent they have played and are coming off their biggest win of the season against the Baylor Bears.

Don’t sleep on Oklahoma because if they can win out against TCU and Oklahoma State, the Sooners will be headed to the College Football Playoff. That’s the thing about the Big 12, the end of the season is usually a dog fight. Baker Mayfield is going to need to continue to play out of his mind.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) heads for the end zone as Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Hendrick Ekpe (95) looks on during the second half at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) heads for the end zone as Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Hendrick Ekpe (95) looks on during the second half at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

This is where the strength of schedule argument comes into play, but the Iowa Hawkeyes are one of the top teams in the country and they could be a threat to take down either Ohio State or Michigan State in the Big Ten title game and make it to the playoff that way.

No one would be questioning strength of schedule if the Big Ten were suddenly labeled the “SEC” since teams have been beating up on each other all year long — it would just be considered a deep conference. Iowa will have a great shot to finish unbeaten and have the Big Ten East all but wrapped up.

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