Cowboys Debut at #11 in College Football Playoff Rankings, Path There

STILLWATER – The College Football Playoff Selection Committee spoke for the first time on Tuesday night and while their initial rankings showed a slight lack of respect to the Big 12 and especially the unbeaten leader in the conference, they did leave room for three Big 12 teams to move up in the rankings. The combination of their positioning and the fact that both Oklahoma State and Baylor play Oklahoma in the month of November there is room and opportunity for both to move up.

Oklahoma State (7-1) is ranked No. 11 in the initial rankings. Baylor (7-1), who Oklahoma State defeated 24-14 earlier in the season is ranked right behind the Cowboys at No. 12. Oklahoma (9-0) is ranked at No. 8 and that is likely lower because of the Sooners struggles in games ranging from Tulane, Nebraska, and even lowly Kansas a week and a half ago.

The good news for all three Big 12 teams is they play each other with Baylor hosting Oklahoma on Nov. 13 and Bedlam scheduled in Stillwater on Nov. 27. There will also be the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 4 that could likely match up two of those three teams in another game. The team that finds a way to go through that November gauntlet would have a strong chance to make the four-team College Football Playoff.

The committee had Georgia (8-0) a strong No. 1 with Alabama (7-1) at No. 2 and that insures one or the other SEC team will be in, but likely not both unless it is Georgia losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

"Right away, Georgia was a clear No. 1, but there was a fair amount of conversation about Alabama," CFP Selection Committee chairperson Gary Barta said on the ESPN rankings show. "There was a lot of consensus for Alabama to be second."

Michigan State (8-0) that just beat Michigan (No. 7) in a battle of unbeatens is ranked No. 3. Ohio State (7-1) is No. 5. Michigan State and Ohio State play this month as does Ohio State and Michigan.

Oregon (7-1)  is in a great position at No. 4, but they did lose to Stanford (3-5). Stanford lost their opener 24-7 to Kansas State of the Big 12. Both the Cowboys and Oklahoma have wins over Kansas State this season.

The Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten fared the best in the first rankings as the SEC had seven teams in and the Big Ten had six schools in. Alabama was the highest one-loss team at No. 2, Auburn was the top two-loss team at No. 13. Mississippi State is the highest ranked three loss team at No. 16. All three of those teams are from the SEC.

The committee was most consistent in keeping teams that beat other ranked teams head-to-head. Oregon ahead of Ohio State, Oklahoma State ahead of Baylor, Mississippi State in front of Kentucky, and Wisconsin over Iowa were examples. Yes, and Fresno State ahead of San Diego State from this past weekend. 

Cincinnati is in a bad spot as you would guess Power Five teams with big November wins would be able to pass the Bearcats. It doesn’t look good. 

"The committee has great respect for Cincinnati. The win at Notre Dame was a really impressive win," committee chairman Gary Barta said. "But who else did they beat? Looking at the big picture, we feel six is the right spot for Cincinnati."

Oregon is in a good spot if they keep winning. The top Big Ten team and the top Big 12 team provided they have only one loss at the end have strong chances.