Despite making top 4, Oklahoma the biggest loser in CFP rankings
Oklahoma moved into the top four Tuesday night, but the Sooners were still the biggest losers in the new College Football Playoff rankings.
The selection committee essentially dismissed their resume by placing them at No. 4, two spots below Clemson, which owns an identical 9-1 record and the less impressive crop of wins. The Tigers have only defeated one team currently ranked inside the top 15, whereas the Sooners have taken out three such opponents.
Oklahoma's, Clemson's 3 best victories:
| No. 4 Oklahoma | No. 2 Clemson |
|---|---|
| Ohio State | Auburn |
| Oklahoma State | Virginia Tech |
| TCU | NC State |
Their respective losses, meanwhile, also make the committee's placement of the two programs befuddling. Oklahoma fell to Iowa State - a team with a winning record - while Clemson went down to Syracuse - a team with a losing record.
It's hard to imagine the Sooners will be snubbed from the playoff if they win out, but the committee opened the door for that to happen.
For instance, what will the committee do if No. 5 Wisconsin finishes undefeated and knocks off Ohio State in the Big Ten championship, and No. 6 Auburn topples Alabama in a couple weeks and then Georgia for a second time in the SEC title contest?
There are a ton of "what-ifs," and most of them probably won't come to fruition. But if they do, Oklahoma could be in trouble. Clemson, on the other hand, doesn't have to worry about that; if the Tigers win out, a ticket to the playoff will await them.