Every week, I will play Selection Committee member, take a look at the College Football Playoff picture and offer what I believe the bracket should be if the season ended today. Call it Forde's Fab Four, and feel free to disagree.
ORANGE BOWL: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Ohio State
The Tigers (7-0, 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) vault from fourth to first on the strength of several developments: their 58-0 detonation of Miami; the blowout loss by Utah; and unspectacular victories over middling competition by the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, LSU and Baylor. Clemson handed the Hurricanes the worst loss in school history, and did so on the road. In the process, Dabo Swinney’s team continued its roll after winning consecutive squeakers against Louisville and Notre Dame – the Tigers have outscored the competition by 94 points the past three games. Next: at North Carolina State (5-2) on Saturday.
Look who’s back in the Fab Four, for the first time since Sept. 20: the Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 in the Big Ten), who have been No. 1 in the polls but outside my playoff after a series of underwhelming performances. But between losses by other teams and Ohio State finally rounding into form, it’s time to welcome the Buckeyes back to the bracket. It certainly seems to have helped that Urban Meyer got around to starting his best quarterback for the first time this year Saturday against Rutgers – J.T. Barrett stepped into the lineup and Ohio State dominated the Scarlet Knights, 49-7. Barrett completed 14-of-18 passes for 223 yards and ran for 101 yards on 13 carries, helping ignite an offense that had labored under previous starter Cardale Jones. Next: Ohio State has a bye this week, followed by a home game against Minnesota Nov. 7.
COTTON BOWL: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 Baylor
The Tigers (7-0, 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference) held serve Saturday against a sneaky good Western Kentucky team, playing a somewhat-flat first half (predictably, after a slugfest against Florida the week before) and then taking control in the last quarter and a half. Leonard Fournette had his customary 150 yards, but the big story in a 48-20 victory was the continued evolution of quarterback Brandon Harris. Harris threw for a career-high 286 yards and three touchdowns, hitting passes of 50-plus yards to three different receivers. That followed an impressive long-ball display against the Gators, and hints at the offensive diversity that LSU is capable of. The Tigers’ secondary was again vulnerable against the Hilltoppers, but WKU quarterback Brandon Doughty is one of the best. Next: LSU has a bye before the cataclysmic clash at Alabama on Nov. 7, which may again decide the SEC West championship.
The Bears (7-0, 4-0 in the Big 12) beat Iowa State in underwhelming fashion, 45-27, scoring their fewest points of the season by 11 and ending their streak of 60-point games at five. But that wasn’t the only issue: Quarterback Seth Russell, who leads the nation in pass efficiency, broke a bone in his neck during the game and the remainder of his season is in question pending evaluation by a specialist. The Baylor offense seems to thrive no matter who is the quarterback – the Bears have been first or second nationally in total offense the previous four years – but the gig could now be turned over to a true freshman. Jarrett Stidham has been sensational in limited time; is he good enough to get Baylor into the College Football Playoff if Russell doesn’t return? Stay tuned. Next: Off Saturday before a Thursday night game at Kansas State, Nov. 5.
The Bears (7-0, 4-0 in the Big 12) beat Iowa State in underwhelming fashion, 45-27, scoring their fewest points of the season by 11 and ending their streak of 60-point games at five. But that wasn’t the only issue: Quarterback Seth Russell, who leads the nation in pass efficiency, broke a bone in his neck during the game and the remainder of his season is in question pending evaluation by a specialist. The Baylor offense seems to thrive no matter who is the quarterback – the Bears have been first or second nationally in total offense the previous four years – but the gig could now be turned over to a true freshman. Jarrett Stidham has been sensational in limited time; is he good enough to get Baylor into the College Football Playoff if Russell doesn’t return? Stay tuned. Next: Off Saturday before a Thursday night game at Kansas State, Nov. 5.
Dropped out: Utah.
Also considered: TCU, Notre Dame, Stanford, Alabama, Michigan State, Memphis, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Temple, Houston.
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