Playoff virtually set

Bama, OSU in regardless of this weeks results. Clem and Wash in with win. Michigan is next in line if either stumble. Next up would be Oklahoma, then Colorado

Big 10 winner does not have a way in.

I'm sure some may disagree but the writing is on the wall and metrics support it.

I agree.. if CLEMSON or Washington lose, I think Michigan gets in.. interested to see if Michigan is at 5 or 6 tomorrow.. I don't care what anyone says, Michigan would be WAY more competitive in the final four over PSU, Wisconsin, Oklahoma 

I have to think that the committee will not be cheering harder against anyone more than Penn State this weekend.  If Penn State wins the Big 10, there is no way they can be left out even if both Clemson and Washington win their respective conferences.  It will leave the committee literally stuck in a circular catch-22...

What dcp said .   If they take oh st ahead of a conference champ Penn state then I'm out of this farce.  Kirk herbstreit is the biggest joke.   For the last 2  years he's been yapping about the importance of a conference championship and how every game has to matter.   Well not only does every game not matter (penn st vs oh state) but the big 10 conference championship is absolutely pointless.  Why r they playing it.   I'm waiting for a big upset in a conference championship (like fla beating Alabama ) to see what they do then

Some pretty interesting scenarios brewing.  Yeah if this played out that way, obviously they would be saying the conference championship game and essentially the conference champions are meaningless.

Some great points. What they should do to take out all biases and a selection committee is: The winner of each Power 5 conference gets in, end of story. No more committee chosing 4 teams. The 5 teams that make it are then ranked just on AP Poll, or a BCS ranking hybrid. What you would have is basically a one game play-in based on those rankings between the 4 and 5 seed. It's only adding one extra game to the current format. Then the Conference Championship games mean everything. No bitching and complaining about being left out. You win your conference or you shut up.

8 teams.  5 conf champions and 3 at large  based on a committee.

you have to keep the committee.  it's the way hoops has been done for years and it pays people (i assume) and no one wants to give up a paid position.....

it makes the conf. championship games very very very meaningful and conferences wont bother throwing the game (which we've seen with Oregon and OhioSt blowouts in games they needed to win convincingly)

and having 8 teams...or 7 games....means way more money for conferences and the NCAA and no one says no to money. 

round 1 is played the  week after conf. championship week and is played at the higher seeds home site (unless they can logistically work out 4 neutral sites which would be very difficult to do).

the semis and finals are played as they are currently.

the top 8 would be this year
Bama
OhioSt
Okla if they win
Wash/Col winner
PSU/Wisky winner
Michigan
Western Michigan if they win (come on...give Bama an easy round 1 :-)
Clemson/VT winner

who says no?

the obvious downside is more 5-7 teams in bowl games. meh

COMPLETELY DISAGREE  BROTHER 

If Penn St wins and Clemson and Washington also win, then the Buckeyes should be out of the picture since PSu beat them heads up. 

All great points guys but I believe the committee has shown that when teams have similar records, they will rely on the metrics over conf titles. This is why I believe Clem and Wash have everyone else "checkmated" with a win. Same applies to Michigan if one of them slips up.... The drop off in power ratings from #5 to #6 is fairly large.

If we follow this logic, it's difficult to envision 3 big10 teams getting in which is why I'd favor Oklahoma then Colorado if Clem/wash both go down.

There certainly is a lot of football left to be played but every teams path seems clear... At least IMO

and then you look at the fluky mannor in which the game was won and also the strength of schedule that both teams played and you see thats these teams arent even in the same stratosphere

Playoff was always fools gold. They'll eventually "fix" it by making it worse. "Gotta settle it on the field," or some such.

Don't bet on it.  Big 12 was automatically 7 the first year until the conference championships games were played - the things changed. If Penn State wins, do not be surprised to see them ahead of Ohio State. Ohio State is better in my opinion, but the past committees have set  precedence - conference champions in conference championship games get in.  Will be very interesting to see if still go that way. Some different committee members now - Not sure if they dye was cast in recent years for future committees to follow or if they can go out on their own.  Best 4 teams I my opinion:
Alabama
Ohio State
Clemson
Michigan

The Pac 12 blows.

Sorry about all the typos.  Apparently don't believe in proofreading.

Jesus you clowns have zero foresight

If Clemson/Wash lose, B10 winner is in over Mich 100%

The committee only has them at #5 right now because you can't put Wisc there over them when Mich beat them. That changes

No chance a 2 loss Mich gets in over 2 loss B10 Champ. Then you would have 2 B10 teams in the top 4 and the B10 Champ out?

lol

The credibility of the committee will be gone forever

Problem is mich would be double digit fav over psu and wisc. Committe chairman already laid the groundwork this evening, stating over and over that their job is to get the 4 BEST teams. If given the chance, I find it hard to believe the committee won't match up bama-mich and I wouldn't begrudge them...

how long has it been since the big 10 er 12 has been this competitive?  Clemson and Washington win their in. Penn st and Wisconsin winner should be in and Ohio St out but pigs will fly before that happens.

AS OF TODAY, MICHIGAN (RANKED #5 IN THE CFP RANKINGS) WOULD GET IN IF CLEMSON OR WASHINGTON LOSES THIS WEEKEND