Oklahoma football: Sooners will have to make history to make College Football Playoff

The 9-1 Oklahoma Sooners have dropped precipitously in the College Football Playoff rankings after their first loss, yet they could make CFP history. 

Another week, another edition of the College Football Playoff rankings — and another round of surprises.

This week, one of the big questions was what would happen to the Oklahoma Sooners after the previously undefeated team dropped their first game of the season on Saturday to Baylor.

The result? Oklahoma football dropped from No. 8 to 13 in the third release of the rankings.

No. 8 makes it difficult to reach a top-four slot by the final week of rankings, but thus far, No. 13 puts the Sooners in an impossible position.

If the Sooners somehow do make playoffs, they would be the first team to do so from this particular spot in the season. No team has been ranked lower than 9th in the third CFP rankings and made the playoffs.

According to Brett McMurphy, the verdict is even more condemning for the Sooners’ new ranking. In its seven-year history, only four teams outside of the top five at this point in the rankings have advanced to the CFP.

Oklahoma football could lose out on CFP chances — or they could make CFP history

What made the Sooners fall from CFP grace was an upset 27-14 loss to the Baylor Bears on Nov. 13. Their first loss of the season, the Sooners fell five spots in the rankings from eighth place.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that the 8-2 Bears actually surpassed the Sooners in the rankings, ranking No. 11 to Oklahoma’s spot at 13.

But not all hope is lost for the Sooners, as they still have a chance to make CFP history. Michigan State ranked No. 9 in the third CFP rankings in 2015, yet they still earned a coveted playoff spot by December. That team is the lowest-ranked team in the third week of CFP rankings to eventually make the top four, but if the Sooners land in the playoffs, they will best Michigan State’s mid-ranking resurgence.

To do that, Oklahoma must execute a perfect rest-of-season and find a way to best Baylor after their bitter loss. The Sooners will have opportunities to improve their standing as they host Iowa State and Oklahoma State for their final two games of the season. Wins in those games would punch their ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game, furthering their shot to make history.

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