College football rankings: Conference power rankings entering Championship Week

3. Big 12

Oklahoma lost to Oklahoma State on Saturday, keeping the Big 12’s possible claim to a spot in the College Football Playoff alive. Will the committee move the Cowboys up to fifth or sixth with Ohio State’s loss? Will they move Notre Dame since the Fighting Irish have played exactly one ranked team this season? There is so much to question for the Big 12, but it’s OK State versus Baylor for all the marbles this Saturday. It’s not only the first time that Oklahoma won’t appear since it returned in 2017, but it’s the first time that Oklahoma won’t be the winner of the Big 12. Both Texas and TCU came one win short of bowl eligibility, but West Virginia went 4-2 down the stretch to make itself bowl eligible to save respectability in Neal Brown’s third season. Still, this all comes down to the top where the Cowboys and Bears are going to fight for a well-deserved championship.

2. Big Ten

Still a little shocked that Michigan was finally able to beat the Buckeyes? They needed everything to fall in their lap, but credit where credit is due, the Wolverines took advantage of their opportunities and made Ohio State pay. Now, OSU is out of the College Football Playoff conversation, Michigan has a date with Iowa for the Big Ten Championship, and the rest of the conference is looking to advance its standings in college football.

1. SEC

This one is so obvious it’s not even funny. With LSU and Florida winning this past week, the SEC broke the record for most teams eligible to play in a bowl game in history. 13 of the 14 teams in the SEC are going bowling this winter. That’s ridiculous. Only Vanderbilt is missing out. Meanwhile, Georgia and Alabama are going to face off in the SEC Championship Game. It will be a fun duel between two of the best teams in the country. The real question is whether Alabama can survive a loss to Georgia and still make the College Football Playoff.

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