College Football Playoff Rankings: How The Top 25 Should Be Done – Top 20
20. Kentucky Wildcats (6-2)
The Case For This Spot: This will be one of the interesting teams the committee will have to deal with. Technically, there isn’t any one amazing win, but all five of the FBS victories – UK beat UT-Chattanooga for that sixth win – were over teams that are currently 4-4.
However, the two straight losses will be part of the trend-down aspect to where the Wildcats are really ranked – ranked somewhere around 21ish – but the overall body of work is stronger than than it seems.
Win That Matters: Kentucky 20, Florida 13
Loss (or bad performance) That Matters: Mississippi State 31, Kentucky 17
Up Next: Tennessee
19. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-3)
The Case For This Spot: This is the How Much Does The College Football Playoff Committee Actually Know test, Part 2.
Win That Matters: Yeah, Mississippi State is 5-3 – and a loss is a loss is a loss, especially to a bad team – but the loss to Memphis came on a weird punt return that shouldn’t have counted. One of the other losses was by three to LSU, and the other defeat was to Alabama.
However, the Bulldogs beat Texas A&M – who beat Bama. They also beat NC State by 14, and just took down Kentucky by 14. It’s one of those trending-up teams, even with the issues on the resumé.
Loss (or bad performance) That Matters: Memphis 31, Mississippi State 29
Up Next: at Arkansas
18. UTSA Roadrunners (8-0)
The Case For This Spot: If it was so easy to be 8-0, everyone would be doing it, including the teams with lousy schedules. There are only six teams out of 130 that are still without a blemish in November.
The win over Illinois on the road deserves a wee bit of love – the Illini beat Penn State and Nebraska, for what that’s worth. There’s also a win over a Memphis team that beat Mississippi State, the Western Kentucky win isn’t bad, and …
8-0 is 8-0.
Win That Matters: UTSA 37, Illinois 30
Loss (or bad performance) That Matters: UTSA 24, UNLV 17
Up Next: at UTEP
17. Arkansas Razorbacks (5-3)
The Case For This Spot: The top 16 should be close to right – with a few mixes and matches in the configuration. Before getting there, this isn’t where Arkansas will likely be.
It’s the one philosophical belief in this that I can’t ever convince anyone else is right – including committee members.
It’s not fair to punish teams that play great teams, and lose.
Arkansas beat Texas A&M by ten, and the committee is going to swoon over the A&M win over Alabama. The blowout over Texas should mean something, too, but the Hogs will probably be in the low 20s because of losses to Georgia and Ole Miss on the road, and with a home loss to Auburn.
Win That Matters: Arkansas 20, Texas A&M 10
Loss (or bad performance) That Matters: Auburn 38, Arkansas 23
Up Next: Mississippi State
16. Ole Miss Rebels (6-2)
The Case For This Spot: There shouldn’t be any real punishment for losing at Alabama and at Auburn. There are enough solid wins – Louisville, Arkansa, Tennessee, LSU – to maybe be in the top 15.
Win That Matters: Ole Miss 42, Arkansas 51
Loss (or bad performance) That Matters: Auburn 31, Ole Miss 20
Up Next: Liberty
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