College Football Playoff rankings, Week 11: 3 takeaways
By John Buhler
1. Selection Committee really wants to give Wisconsin a chance, but beat somebody, Badgers!
When ESPN agreed to be the broadcasting network that would have the College Football Playoff, it hoped that it would encompass the best college football across the land. However, the last two national championships have featured two southeastern powers in Alabama and Clemson, each splitting titles.
With the way it is shaping out, the only real national brand that would make the playoff today would be Notre Dame, an independent football power. The winner of the SEC Championship between Georgia and either Alabama or Auburn gets in. Clemson gets in if they win out.
The Pac-12 really doesn’t have a chance this year, as the Washington Huskies (8-1) are only No. 9. Maybe a one-loss Big 12 champion gets in over another southeastern team. But let’s be real, the southeast and the southwest are just the south to the folks on the west coast, the northeast and the midwest.
So what is the Selection Committee to do? Prop. Up. Wisconsin. Though one of five undefeated teams at 9-0, the Badgers are only No. 8 this week. Why is that? Because the Badgers haven’t played anybody. The Big Ten has six teams in the top 25, but only Wisconsin has a realistic chance of making the playoff.
The Badgers’ problem is that they haven’t played a ranked team yet. Sure, they beat the No. 25 Northwestern Wildcats team at 6-3. The No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes looked impressive in boat racing Ohio State at Kinnick Stadium last week, but Iowa is only 6-3.
Even though they aren’t ranked now, the Michigan Wolverines (7-2) might as well be when they face Wisconsin in two weeks. So that’s two ranked teams Wisconsin will have beaten while they were ranked.
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At best, the Badgers will face a two-loss Big Ten East winner in the conference championship in Indianapolis. The Selection Committee is doing its part to make sure that division winner will be in or near the top-10. Looking at you, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. Though the Badgers will get ESPN the national audience it wants, how good are they? They are the Big Ten’s only playoff hope and that’s sad.