The 4 Teams That Should Go To The College Football Playoff

By Camden Joiner on November 18, 2014

At long last the NCAA has implemented a playoff system for this year’s postseason. After many years of the computers of the BCS controversially selecting two teams to play for the championship, college football fans were excited to hear that a brand new playoff system would be set into place.

However, all that was really done was the addition of a semi-final round. Now, a committee controversially chooses four teams to play for the championship, but not much else has changed.

Fans are rarely happy with the result and more often than not are confused as to why their team isn’t in the top four. Personally, I’m not on the College Football Playoff Committee, but I thought I’d give it a shot anyway.

Image via nydailynews.com

1. Alabama

After just defeating the undefeated and previous number 1 team Mississippi State last weekend, it makes sense that Alabama holds the number one spot. I think the Crimson Tide deserves the top spot based on their strength of schedule as well as their quality wins.

The Tide has defeated West Virginia, Texas A&M, LSU and Mississippi State already this season. Their lone loss came against a very talented Ole Miss team. This counts less for me because the loss was on the road and the Tide were only defeated by a touchdown.

This week the Tide finally gets a bit of a break against Western Carolina, after playing seven straight SEC programs. But the following week is a rivalry match-up against Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Last season, Bama was in place to secure yet another National Championship Game berth, before being knocked off by the Auburn Tigers. I’m certain they will be ready to avenge that loss.

Image via nytimes.com

2. Mississippi State

Formerly the consensus number 1, I think Mississippi State should only drop one spot. Many polls will drop them much lower, but I don’t believe in penalizing a team simply because they lost late in the season.

Programs should be judged on their season as a whole. The Bulldogs from Mississippi, much like Alabama, are ranked so high because their strength of schedule and quality wins. The Bulldogs have beaten LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and Arkansas already this year. Their lone loss, much like Alabama, came to the current number 1 team, on the road, and was just by a margin of five points.

The Bulldogs take on the worst team in the SEC, Vanderbilt, this weekend but the following week they have a date with in-state rival Ole Miss. If Alabama can beat Auburn, the Tide will be the ones representing the SEC West in the SEC Championship game.

However, if Mississippi State can win out, I believe they too deserve a spot in the top four.

Image via nflmocks.com

3. Florida State

The Seminoles are the only undefeated team left (not going to count Marshall), so it might come as a surprise they’re ranked so low. But if I can’t count Marshall because their schedule is too easy, I shouldn’t count FSU either.

Florida State has not played anyone currently ranked in the AP Top 25. Even with their incredibly light ACC schedule, the Seminoles have struggled to keep their winning streak alive. Late fourth quarter comebacks were a desperate necessity to win games against Notre Dame, Louisville and Miami (all of course currently unranked).

Despite this, an undefeated record cannot be denied into the top four, as long as that team plays in a Power 5 conference. Luckily for FSU, the ACC is still considered in that group.

Several fans claim SEC bias and lack of respect for FSU, despite their winning of the last year’s National Title against a SEC program. But Noles fans have to realize that was last year.

The best of their defense went to the NFL and quarterback Jameis Winston has taken a few steps back. Last year’s Seminoles were a great team, but this year’s won’t be getting past the semi-finals.

Image via bleacherreport.com

4. Oregon

The Oregon Ducks are one of the biggest benefactors from the four team playoff expansion as, in recent years, they have often found themselves on the outside looking in.

This season, Heisman hopeful quarterback Marcus Mariota has the Ducks off to a great start, with just one blemish on their schedule. The Ducks lost at home to Arizona in a game that wasn’t as close as the score.

But since then we’ve learned that the Arizona Wildcats are quite the quality team and in response to their loss, the Ducks have caught fire.

Oregon still has a few PAC-12 games ahead along with the potential PAC-12 Championship showdown, but if they do indeed win out, I see no reason to keep the Ducks out of the top four.

On the outside looking in:

5. Baylor

6. TCU

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