Editor’s note: This article was originally published by USA TODAY Sports and has been republished in its entirety below.
You’d struggle to find another November weekend with as little impact on the College Football Playoff.
With several games featuring many of the best teams in the Bowl Subdivision canceled due to COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols, the playoff race pressed pause.
For those teams able to move forward as scheduled, the weekend presented an opportunity. Notre Dame beat Boston College 45-31, showing little signs of a post-Clemson hangover to remain unbeaten. Florida scored 63 points on Arkansas, while quarterback Kyle Trask made another Heisman Trophy statement.
But there are no changes to the top four: Alabama leads, followed the Irish, Ohio State and Clemson.
The playoff debate will be rekindled this week, should college football be able to withstand the latest round of coronavirus-caused cancellations and postponements.
That so many schedules have been impacted brings up a question for the playoff selection committee: How will the group compare teams playing different numbers of games across different Power Five conferences?
Here’s how the top four would look today, followed by the four teams just on the outside: