I see a lot of nervousness and anger regarding our current ranking. While I, like most, disagree with how the voters rationalize their rankings week in and week out; I also don't see any need to panic at all. The theme, like last year, should be "win and in". That's it. The CFB will not leave out an undefeated P5 with a conference title. Just Win.
We should all come to grips that if FSU loses a game, we will most likely not make the playoff, and if that game is Clemson, we will definitely not make the playoff since at that point it's highly unlikely we even play for an ACC championship. That's just our SOS this year folks, and the only way to combat that is to blow teams out all season, which FSU has not done.
Why not panic, you ask? Well because these things have a tendency to work themselves out. Most big, rivalry games are saved for the end of the year. So long as FSU wins their games, there's no way we will be left out.
Here's how it breaks down:
Current Rank and remaining games against contenders
1. OSU- Plays MSU and Michigan the last two weeks of the season. If OSU wins out, they're in. But it will also mean MSU and Michigan are gone. All three teams are in the same division. It's also too late in the season to recoup a drop in the polls.
2.Baylor- Saved every team with a pulse for the back half of the season. Once again, win and in. However, they have OU, TCU and OKST in late November. Losers are gone, even if its 100-99 as I anticipate it will be. Only one team makes it out of the Big 12 from this pack.
3. Utah- Definitely an easier ride than most. They probably draw Stanford in the title game. Unless they stumble (and remember, its Utah), they're in. If Stanford stumbles along the way and Utah walks in, at least we don't need to watch our backs.
4. TCU- Same theory as Baylor. 60% of remaining games are against contenders or ranked teams. If they win they're in, but also every other team is gone. Once again, only one team ends up surviving from the Big 1(0)2.
5.LSU- Draws Bama in 2 weeks. If LSU wins, Bama is done for. 2 division losses in the west probably doesn't get you a spot in the title game, and committee wont allow a team that hasn't played for a title with 2 losses. If LSU loses, Bama controls destiny in the west.
6. Clemson- The only team Clemson plays with a pulse is FSU. Win that game and you are in. Lose any game and get laughed at for Clemsoning, and disappear into the teens in rankings.
7. Michigan State- Plays OSU. Winner stays high, loser goes away.
8. Alabama- Plays LSU. If they lose, they gone. Win and wait for Ole Miss drop another conference game to control destiny.
9.FSU- will need to beat Clemson and UF, as well as ACCCG. If there is any loss with this schedule, kiss any hopes goodbye.
10. Stanford- Plays Cal and ND, and potentially Utah. Will need to win out, and if they do, ND/Utah are both gone.
11. ND- very weak schedule remaining beesides Stanford, potentially being ranked high when they play. Will need help in my opinion.
12. Iowa- Easiest schedule of any top 15 team IMO. Will need to win out and win B1G title to be considered, in which case OSU/MSU/Mich are all eliminated.
13. UF- Will need to win out which isnt impossible in the east, and beast the West winner to be considered. If they do, LSU/Bama both eliminated.
So expect the top 15 to cannibalize itself over the next 6 weeks. It is a guarantee, as there is no other way.
We should all come to grips that if FSU loses a game, we will most likely not make the playoff, and if that game is Clemson, we will definitely not make the playoff since at that point it's highly unlikely we even play for an ACC championship. That's just our SOS this year folks, and the only way to combat that is to blow teams out all season, which FSU has not done.
Why not panic, you ask? Well because these things have a tendency to work themselves out. Most big, rivalry games are saved for the end of the year. So long as FSU wins their games, there's no way we will be left out.
Here's how it breaks down:
Current Rank and remaining games against contenders
1. OSU- Plays MSU and Michigan the last two weeks of the season. If OSU wins out, they're in. But it will also mean MSU and Michigan are gone. All three teams are in the same division. It's also too late in the season to recoup a drop in the polls.
2.Baylor- Saved every team with a pulse for the back half of the season. Once again, win and in. However, they have OU, TCU and OKST in late November. Losers are gone, even if its 100-99 as I anticipate it will be. Only one team makes it out of the Big 12 from this pack.
3. Utah- Definitely an easier ride than most. They probably draw Stanford in the title game. Unless they stumble (and remember, its Utah), they're in. If Stanford stumbles along the way and Utah walks in, at least we don't need to watch our backs.
4. TCU- Same theory as Baylor. 60% of remaining games are against contenders or ranked teams. If they win they're in, but also every other team is gone. Once again, only one team ends up surviving from the Big 1(0)2.
5.LSU- Draws Bama in 2 weeks. If LSU wins, Bama is done for. 2 division losses in the west probably doesn't get you a spot in the title game, and committee wont allow a team that hasn't played for a title with 2 losses. If LSU loses, Bama controls destiny in the west.
6. Clemson- The only team Clemson plays with a pulse is FSU. Win that game and you are in. Lose any game and get laughed at for Clemsoning, and disappear into the teens in rankings.
7. Michigan State- Plays OSU. Winner stays high, loser goes away.
8. Alabama- Plays LSU. If they lose, they gone. Win and wait for Ole Miss drop another conference game to control destiny.
9.FSU- will need to beat Clemson and UF, as well as ACCCG. If there is any loss with this schedule, kiss any hopes goodbye.
10. Stanford- Plays Cal and ND, and potentially Utah. Will need to win out, and if they do, ND/Utah are both gone.
11. ND- very weak schedule remaining beesides Stanford, potentially being ranked high when they play. Will need help in my opinion.
12. Iowa- Easiest schedule of any top 15 team IMO. Will need to win out and win B1G title to be considered, in which case OSU/MSU/Mich are all eliminated.
13. UF- Will need to win out which isnt impossible in the east, and beast the West winner to be considered. If they do, LSU/Bama both eliminated.
So expect the top 15 to cannibalize itself over the next 6 weeks. It is a guarantee, as there is no other way.
