NEW 2025 College Football Playoff Rankings Reaction: Miami creeping up, Top 4 remains unchanged

Summary

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Cover 3 College Football Podcast

"NEW 2025 College Football Playoff Rankings Reaction: Miami creeping up, Top 4 remains unchanged"

Published: November 12, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell

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Overview

This episode of the Cover 3 Podcast delivers immediate reaction and analysis to the second set of the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. The hosts break down movements at the top and bottom of the rankings, analyze Miami’s playoff hopes (and confusion around its placement), and discuss the broader implications for the ACC, Big 12, SEC, and playoff selection logic. The tone is lively, skeptical of systems, and peppered with humorous asides and college football inside jokes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playoff Rankings Headlines and Top 10 Moves

Key Segment: [02:35–04:28]

• No Change at the Top:

  • Ohio State holds the #1 spot.
  • Indiana jumps to #2, Texas A&M sits at #3, Alabama at #4, Georgia at #5, with Texas Tech making a big move to #6.

• Notable Movement:

  • Texas Tech’s rise and Miami breaking into the top 15 get special attention.
  • Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Texas round out the top 10.

• Miami at #15:

  • Miami is now the highest-ranked ACC team but is unlikely to make the ACC title game, raising questions about playoff inclusion logic.

Chip Patterson [03:41]: “Hello, Miami number 15, which means ... you're going to get the number 11 seed. But Danny, Miami's on the outside looking in of the ACC title race. This is misleading!”

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2. Miami's Tricky Path & ACC Playoff Picture

Key Segment: [04:28–10:00]

• Miami’s Paradoxical Placement:

  • Miami ranks highest among ACC teams but, due to tiebreakers and current standings, isn’t likely to play in the ACC Championship Game.
    • The committee’s approach creates confusion for fans and bracket builders.

• Pod Comparison and Resumé Debate:

  • Danny Kanell argues Miami could edge Notre Dame if their resumes are compared directly, especially given Miami's head-to-head win.
  • Tom Fornelli doubts the committee would leap Miami over Notre Dame given the current gap in rankings, referencing past committee behavior.

Danny Kanell [07:21]: “If it was up to Miami and Notre Dame, I would put Miami in. I don't care about the resumes. I would put them in strictly off of the fact that Miami beat Notre Dame and the results have to matter. But ... they don't consider Miami in the same neighborhood as Notre Dame.”

• Checklist for At-Large Hopefuls:
  • Chip lists a "wishlist" of results needed for Miami, BYU, or Utah to squeeze into the playoff, including at least a Notre Dame loss and several other dominoes falling.

Chip Patterson [10:00]: "I built a wish list for an ACC at large or a Big 12 at large... Notre Dame, any loss. Ohio State over Michigan, Oregon over USC ... Alabama blowout win over Oklahoma, Georgia over Texas ... It's not that hard. It's just like a 16 parlay."

• Skepticism & Realism:
  • The hosts acknowledge this path is extremely unlikely, and joke about the chances resembling a lottery ticket.

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3. Broader ACC and Committee Logic Critique

Key Segment: [13:05–16:58]

• One-Bid ACC & Missed Opportunities:
  • The ACC is likely stuck as a “one-bid league” due to lackluster non-conference performance.
  • The hosts blame the ACC for not securing two automatic CFP bids when offered.

Danny Kanell [13:23]: "That's what I was shouting from the rooftop when it happened. You know you're going to get screwed ... Take the guaranteed two."

• Committee Confusion Highlighted:
  • The Miami bracket situation (appearing as a likely playoff seed despite low odds to win the league) is used to show deep flaws in the weekly ranking exercise.

Tom Fornelli [16:02]: "Is there anything that has ever made you realize how pointless these weekly rankings are than that graphic ... Miami is in there as the ACC champion even though they are the least likely of the five ACC teams ranked to win the ACC."

• Host Frustration with System:
  • Calls for logic and transparency in committee processes.

Tom Fornelli [17:08]: “I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for logic. I'm asking for clarity.”

Danny Kanell [17:13]: “That's too much to ask.”

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4. Big Game Implications & Playoff Leverage

Key Segment: [21:13–26:16]

• Marquee Matchups:

  • Upcoming: #5 Georgia vs. #10 Texas, #4 Alabama vs. #11 Oklahoma.
  • The hosts debate which conference teams are “playing for their playoff lives,” especially Oklahoma.

• What’s at Stake for Oklahoma?

  • Must win to keep realistic playoff hopes alive, as likely future SEC matchups (Missouri, LSU) won’t boost their resume much if those teams aren’t ranked.
  • Comparison: A 3-loss Oklahoma or Texas probably doesn’t get in over Miami/BYU unless schedule strength is overwhelming.
  • Consensus: Oklahoma (and Texas) are in must-win scenarios.

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5. Final Takeaways, Group of Five, and Ranking Oddities

Key Segment: [27:06–34:39]

• Group of 5 Recognition:

  • USF’s entry at #24 as best G5 team is acknowledged, albeit with little drama.

• Cincinnati's Surprising Appearance:

  • Hosts question why a two-loss Cincinnati team (coming off a 31-point loss) is included at #25 over comparably credentialed but unranked teams like Illinois.

Tom Fornelli [31:59]: “Just take that chip on the shoulder into Texas Tech tonight.”

• Committee’s Human Factor:
  • The rankings are assembled by a group with inherent subjectivity; hosts cite individual committee members and their possible biases in a lighthearted tangent.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the ACC’s fate:

  “You know you're going to get screwed. Just know how you're going to get screwed. Take the two [auto bids].”
  — Danny Kanell [13:23]

• On Miami’s playoff illusion:

  “Miami is in there as the ACC champion even though they are the least likely... to win the ACC.”
  — Tom Fornelli [16:02]

• On the CFP committee process:

  “I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for logic. I'm asking for clarity.”
  — Tom Fornelli [17:08]

• On absurd playoff scenarios:

  “It's not that hard. It's just like a 16 parlay. You know, you hit that 16 parlay and then Miami's in.”
  — Chip Patterson [10:00]

• On Playoff Week Drama:

  “This whole exercise is a sham.”
  — Danny Kanell [28:05]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:35] — Hosts react to initial playoff ranking headlines
• [04:28] — Miami's ranking and playoff bracket confusion
• [06:07] — The one-bid ACC and Miami’s slim hopes
• [10:00] — Parlay wishlist for at-large playoff entries
• [13:23] — ACC’s missed bid for auto-qualifiers
• [16:02] — Weekly rankings’ pointlessness illustrated
• [21:13] — Big games coming up (Georgia-Texas, Alabama-Oklahoma)
• [24:18] — Oklahoma's playoff odds and scenarios
• [27:17] — Group of 5 and Cincinnati’s surprise inclusion
• [31:59] — Illinois left out; subjectivity in ranking selections

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Overall Tone & Final Thoughts

• The hosts oscillate between insightful and exasperated, mixing hard data with speculative "what ifs" and good-natured ribbing of the committee’s quirks.
• There’s a recurring skepticism about the process and utility of weekly rankings, especially when graphics and tiebreakers conflict with actual team positioning and opportunity.
• As ever, the pod closes with a reminder to join for the next round of previews and picks.

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For die-hard fans or casual observers, the episode is required listening for understanding not just what happened in the latest CFP release, but why it’s confusing, controversial, and still the best argument-fodder in college football.

Transcript

[Chip Patterson]

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[Danny Cannell]

Welcome Back to the COVID 3 podcast with your hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Cannell and Bud Elliott.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's your call for the best college.

[Danny Cannell]

Football coverage from national Signing Day to the national championship and.

[Tom Fornelli]

CBS Sports presents.

[Danny Cannell]

The COVID 3 Podcast.

[Chip Patterson]

And welcome back to the COVID 3 Podcast here on CBS Sports. That's Tom Friedelli, that's Danny Cannell. I'm Chip Patterson. Come to you [e-mail] cover3 and everywhere you get your podcast on demand. Thanks for hanging out. Smash that subscribe Smash that like and come and join us in the chat aka the COVID 3 tailgate where they're asking for the mock turtleneck. Listen, if Bud's gonna go on IG giving monologues in the mock turtleneck. How's he gonna not show up for the instant reaction show to the rankings? Right? I mean, talked about it on. Talked about it Saturday night, the Tiger Woods. So, yeah, we'll check in with him Wednesday. Big game breakdown on the way. Yes, Ohio State holds as no at number one. No surprises there. Texas Tech makes a move up. We've got Indiana checking in at 2, Texas A&M at 3, Alabama at 4, Georgia at 5, Texas Tech at 6. That's a big jump up. Ole Miss at 7, Oregon at 8, Notre Dame at 9, Texas at 10. Then hello, Miami number 15, which means that just because you're ahead of Georgia Tech, you're going to get the number 11 seed. But Danny Canal, Miami's on the outside looking in of the ACC title race. This is misleading. I'm always upset. This is very misleading.

[Danny Cannell]

That's why I was just looking at the bracket because I'm supposed to fill out a bracket after and I guess that's how they get the nod in the bracket because they're the highest ranked even though they don't have.

[Chip Patterson]

This is confusing. Very misleading at all.

[Danny Cannell]

I have a buddy of mine, he's a little bit flighty and I guarantee he's gonna be like, we made the playoffs. We're in if we win. We were in. I'm like, oh, boy, here we go. Now they're gonna have to do explainers and write this thing off. That's. I should do winners, Miami because they did jump up, but then losers because they're not in. I'm gonna do that.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, we got the answers. 8:15 on CBS Sports HQ. We're locked and loaded top Bernelli. It literally just finished going there as they did their, their playoff reaction rankings. Reaction show. Further down in the bracket, South Florida does end up showing up after no group of five teams in the rankings last week. The South Florida Bulls up there at number 24, Iowa hangs in at number 21 down just one spot. That feels like a good sign for the Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten. And Cincinnati, which was off last week with all the mayhem, looks like they crept their way in. Let's. Tom, you could take the top of the rankings, bottom of the rankings. What. What stood out to you as we go live here at 7:18pm Eastern Time.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, man. So many interesting things to talk about in these rankings. I'm so grateful to be here with you two to discuss them. I, I think that the one thing that really kind of caught me by surprise was the fact that Iowa did only drop a spot because I figured the way things usually go, they were going to drop maybe like they would hang on at 25. I didn't think they would only drop a spot. I agree with it. I don't think that they played in a way that deemed them falling much further than that, especially when you look at the teams that are behind them in the rankings. So I like that. I do, I, I do think the primary takeaway here, I mean other than the ridiculous order that they're put in because Miami gets the spot on the graphic, even though they probably can't win the ACC is that the ACC is a one bid league that is very much solidified in that Miami's the highest ranked and it's at 15.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. And of the five most likely acc championship game matchups, I don't think Miami's in any of them.

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Danny Cannell]

I just want to point out if they can close the gap between them and Notre Dame and get in the same pod where you're comparing resumes with Notre Dame. I think there's an outside shot. Now I've said this since the minute they lost at Louisville and that was before they lost SMU when they were a one loss team. I'm like, they still have a path. I still think it's there. However much of a long shot because. And what else they have is a common opponent. So they do have pit. Both of them play in Pittsburgh. Common opponent. If Notre Dame, I mean, yeah, if they lost, then you're. Then all of a sudden. I do think Miami could potentially get in even cleaner. But if Notre Dame wins by three, Miami wins by two touchdowns, which is not really in their blood. It's not really what they do. I think that could be something that could give Miami a outside, outside chance of still getting in without the ACC title.

[Tom Fornelli]

See, I, I honestly don't think Miami would win the comparison to Miami if they get into their pod.

[Chip Patterson]

Miami would win the comparison to.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, see Tom, you need to follow ACC football account, Tom, because they did a side by side resume and I could read it off if you want.

[Tom Fornelli]

No, no, listen, I would, I would put, if it was up to Miami and Notre Dame, I would put Miami in. I don't care about the resumes. I would put them in strictly off of the fact that Miami beat Notre Dame and the results have to matter. But my point is just that there's such a gap between them now, even though they bumped Miami up. Like they don't consider Miami to be in the same Neighborhood as Notre Dame, even though Miami beat Notre Dame. So unless Notre Dame loses, I don't think they're going to ever consider Miami's.

[Danny Cannell]

Better than Notre Dame, but Vanderbilt could lose.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, keep that.

[Danny Cannell]

Like, there's all this graphic.

[Chip Patterson]

Let's play this game. Let's. Let's pick them off. All right. I think Miami can get to 11. I don't. 11 is not high enough if they're not a conference champion.

[Tom Fornelli]

But my point overall is that it's not just you remove the teams in front of them. It's that they're comparing all these teams to each other, and they've still got Notre Dame six spots ahead of Miami. They've already compared the two, and they said Notre Dame is six spots back better.

[Danny Cannell]

So that was something. I think Chris Budden actually put this out because the way the. The way the rankings work, they're so far apart now that they don't actually have them in the same pod. So they don't look at them even in the same. But as some of those other schools start getting pecked out, like, if there's a pecking order, those schools lose, they will be in the same pod. And that's when I think the resume actually could help Miami make that big jump.

[Chip Patterson]

You know what I mean?

[Tom Fornelli]

But why isn't that resume making the jump now then?

[Chip Patterson]

It is. I mean, look, it's not.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's the 15th. It moved up from 18th, but only because Virginia and Louisville lost.

[Chip Patterson]

No, no, no. I'll be worth.

[Danny Cannell]

The recency bias. I mean, the guy said Miami. Last week, Mack Road said Miami's been playing good lately, but they do have three more games they could play good, and all of a sudden, look the part. And again, a lot of this is wild speculation because Miami needs to look good and they need to beat Pitt and they need to beat the teams on their schedule still. But I. And I've tried to paint this picture before, and it's like, it looks stupid now, so it might look stupid in two weeks, but I do think there is a path for Miami to potentially get there.

[Tom Fornelli]

They need Notre Dame to lose. It's not the teams in front of them that they need to lose, although that helps. They need Notre Dame to lose. They need Texas to lose. They need Oklahoma to lose. They need Oregon to lose. They need BYU to lose. They need all of those teams to lose, and they have to keep winning.

[Chip Patterson]

I. I built a wish list for an ACC at large or a Big 12 at large. You ready to hear it? Notre Dame, any loss Got to get Notre Dame out of there. Notre Dame is taking up an at large spot in the field. You get them out, you increase the opportunity for a Miami, you increase the opportunity for a BYU or a Utah. Right. So any kind of at large for the Big 12 of the ACC, I think has to start with Notre Dame losing. Pitt, Panthers, you're up. I think you also need ready. This is still on the wish list. Ohio State over Michigan, Oregon over usc. That essentially eliminates the teams that could be knocking on the door to add to the Big Tens haul of at large bids to the College Football Playoff. Get Michigan out. Getting USC out. Then again, if you are a Big 12 or ACC at large candidate, of which Utah, BYU, Miami are certainly in this conversation, you want an Alabama blowout win against Oklahoma and you want Georgia to beat Texas. Then in week 14, you want Tennessee over Vanderbilt and Texas A and M over Texas. You want Texas to not even have a we're the best three. No, you need him out. You need them out of the paint. Because if you are Miami, if you are Utah, the last thing you want is to have to fight that fight against Texas. Throw on the conspiracy theory hat, but they do have great record strength, strength of schedule. You know all those pieces. You can sit there on Sunday in early December and make the arguments for a three loss. Texas Longhorns team is the last team in. If you are Miami, if you are Utah, if you are byu, you don't want to be there. You need them to have four losses. So again, Notre Dame, any loss. Ohio State over Michigan, Oregon over usc. Alabama blowout win over Oklahoma, Georgia over Texas, Tennessee over Vanderbilt, Texas A and M over Texas. It's not that hard. It's just like a 16 parlay. You know, you hit that 16 parlay and then Miami's in.

[Danny Cannell]

Seen them hit before.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. Come on, let's. That's. It's. I mean, do you. Am I wrong? Am I off base on this one? Does that like. Does that make sense?

[Tom Fornelli]

No, you're not. It does make sense, but it's. Yeah, they need all of that to happen. It can't just be they went out and then they're compared to Notre Dame and they get the edge over Notre Dame. That's clear. That's not going to be the Texas and Oklahoma.

[Danny Cannell]

If they get beat by two touchdowns or more, there's a chance Miami could jump both of them. That's all you need. Like that's a big jump.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't know, man.

[Chip Patterson]

Shout out to Nash in the tailgate. Who said he's putting that parlay in right now because.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, because it's college football. Of course it'll happen.

[Chip Patterson]

Of course. Yeah. Come on. The acc.

[Danny Cannell]

So they'll like, they'll have everything fall in place that they need to and then they'll lose to Syracuse in the last game.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, that's my, that's exactly what will.

[Danny Cannell]

Happen the way that needs to. But then they'll, they'll lose.

[Chip Patterson]

It'll start with Pitt beating Notre Dame this weekend.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

Miami then also subsequently loses.

[Tom Fornelli]

The committee really likes the SEC in Big Ten.

[Danny Cannell]

Amazing how that works.

[Tom Fornelli]

14 of the 25 teams.

[Chip Patterson]

I don't think that's crazy.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think it's crazy either. I'm just saying.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean, just looking at college football and ranking 50 teams every single week, I don't think that's crazy.

[Tom Fornelli]

Should the ACC have jumped at the two auto bid offer when it was given?

[Danny Cannell]

Yes. That's what I was shouting from the rooftop when it happened. You know you're going to get screwed. Just know how you're going to get screwed. Take the two. You can't get screwed with one. And if they're still an at large, sure, go ahead. Maybe you get a third every once in a while. But take the guaranteed two. And I remember saying the same thing to Brett, your mark. And Brett your mark. And he's out there. We want the best teams in the playoff. Good luck with that.

[Chip Patterson]

So I will sit here in this ACC corner for just a few minutes, hit a break and then escape from this literal funhouse mirror situation. The teams that are in there, I don't even trust half of them because they're just not playing well right now. Jeff Brahm sounds like he doesn't trust his quarterback. Virginia's quarterback got rocked. I mean, just, or I, I, I, I sincerely believe, I not believe, I sincerely hope that, that Chandler Morris is going to make a full recovery. But buddy, I, I just don't feel confident in either one of those teams to be playing their best football right now.

[Danny Cannell]

I don't either.

[Chip Patterson]

It's all on you, Georgia Tech, that.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, you know what though, Chip? You know what the problem is with the acc? You don't know that they haven't been playing their best football.

[Chip Patterson]

I do know that Louisville has played better games than it has played recently.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm saying like the Virginias of the world, that just might be who they are.

[Danny Cannell]

I'll say this, Rhett Lashley, I think Jeff Drum as well, they haven't been like pounding the table. We're getting screwed. They were all like, we had opportunities to win games in the non con and we lost them. And that was before duke lost to UConn. Like there were opportunities and you didn't take advantage of them. Was, what's it, 4 and 12, 4 and 13.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's not good. Yeah.

[Danny Cannell]

So I mean, like, I think that's why they're not. It's hard to say the ACC's getting screwed when you didn't have any success in the non con and blew a couple games as favorites. It's hard to really pound the table for them.

[Chip Patterson]

Yep. Again, you're looking if you're watching along on YouTube.com cover3. Miami in there at 11. They are 15 in the college Football Playoff rankings. They are the highest ranked ACC team as of right now. But a reminder that given the current ACC standings and tiebreaker scenarios, the odds do not favor them to be able to even make it to the ACC title game over many other options.

[Tom Fornelli]

Is there anything that has ever made you realize how pointless these weekly rankings are than that graphic that is the epitome of how pointless all of this is that Miami is in there as the ACC champion even though they are the least likely of the five ACC teams ranked to win the acc.

[Chip Patterson]

You know what, you know what this is going to do. It's going to bring out Danny's dream. No automatic qualifiers.

[Danny Cannell]

It might 1 through 12.

[Chip Patterson]

I'm tired. Like last year, we were given the fast pass to the three and the four seed and it was blowing everybody's minds. On Tuesday night they're like, wait, we don't get it. How is that team 17 and now they're the four. I don't, I don't get it. Why, why are the numbers not the same? And now some stuff like this, Miami being in the bracket, but also the one of the most least likely teams to make it into the bracket from their own conference.

[Tom Fornelli]

What a system we've created for.

[Chip Patterson]

Listen, it is fun, Tom. Look around. What's perfect?

[Danny Cannell]

Right?

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm not asking for perfection. I'm asking for logic. I'm asking for clarity.

[Danny Cannell]

That's too much to ask.

[Chip Patterson]

That's too much. All right, coming up on the other side, we will look ahead as we've got some big games coming up this weekend. What could be the College Football Playoff impact and more. Whether you're raising a glass to your team winning, catching up with old buddies back in town, or just trying to stay sane with a house full of relatives, how you feel the next Morning still matters. That's why you can try Pre Alcohol Zebiotics Pre Alcohol Probiotic Drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists specifically to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It's the buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration, that's really to blame for those rough next days. Pre alcohol produces an enzyme that breaks this byproduct down so you can feel your best tomorrow. Just remember to make pre alcohol your first drink of the night. And of course, drink responsibly. Had a big night with some of my best friends from high school recently. It was a steak night. And of course in that kind of night when you might have a cocktail, you might have some wine, with dinner, and of course a big meal, you knew there was going to be a lot going on in the gut. But my friend showed up, he had the prebiotic from Zbiotics and sure enough, the next morning felt a lot better. No sluggishness, no regrets. Make the most of every toast, tailgate and touchdown this holiday season. Just don't forget to bring pre alcohol along for the ride. Go to ZBiotics.com cover to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use code COVER at checkout. ZBiotics is backed with 100% money back guarantee, so if you are unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to zbiotics.com cover and use code cover at checkout for 15% off. So I made the new Eggo protein waffles the other day for my boys and no surprise, the kids loved it. They've got that same great Eggo taste we all know and love, but with an irresistible twist. 20% of your daily protein in every serving. And let me tell you, protein has never tasted this good. I mean, my kids couldn't believe they were protein waffles. They just wanted more waffles. They're made with wholesome ingredients fresh from the griddle. And honestly, they become an easy part of our breakfast routine. It doesn't matter whether we have a little bit of syrup, maybe a little bit of butter, or you know what, even just plain because it's so simple and so delicious. These waffles deliver an excellent source of complete protein, 10 grams per serving, without compromising on flavor. Because let's be real, if it doesn't taste good, no one's gonna eat it. But these. No one can say no. Head to your local grocery store to fuel up your morning with Eggo protein waffles and pancakes available at retailers nationwide. Back here on the COVID 3 podcast as we continue to react to the new College Football Playoff rankings as we kind of reset. I don't know if you fans at home realize that this happens, but the new playoff rankings kind of reshuffle the way that things look, the way that these games are promoted and discussed. So now it will be number five, Georgia, taking on number 10, Texas. It will be number four, Alabama, playing host to number 11, Oklahoma, coming up this weekend. When we look at those two games and when we start to, you know, dive into ahead of what the. What the implications are going to be. Are the Oklahoma Sooners playing at Alabama but then also having games left against Missouri and lsu? Are the Sooners playing for their playoff future right now?

[Danny Cannell]

I told you my Miami buddy was going to tax. He's like, do you see this? I'm telling you, it's awful, confusing.

[Tom Fornelli]

Very good point by Robert. I'm sorry, Chip, I'll answer your question in a second. I just think there's a very good point in the chat from Robert Michael. Miami can't about being behind Notre Dame when it's ahead of Louisville, which beat it. Right.

[Danny Cannell]

They need Louisville to lose.

[Tom Fornelli]

Or else they get in the same pod.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, multiple ACC teams in.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right.

[Danny Cannell]

But if Louisville lost the ACC championship game, I think that would be another loss. Even though it's not fair because you played in the game. I think that would be what would keep it out.

[Chip Patterson]

I think Louisville's gonna lose the Clemson on Friday and we'll be. We'll be okay there. So for Oklahoma, currently 11 not in the playoff field, if it were to start tomorrow, are they playing for their playoff lives as a 7 and 2 team in Tuscaloosa or is there a path or an outcome where they could lose that game and still play their way in?

[Tom Fornelli]

I would suggest winning, obviously. I mean, again, I just asked for a system with logic. I don't. Yeah, I think they kind of have to win because if you look at their resume is currently constructed. They get Mizzou and LSU after Alabama. Neither one of those teams is likely to be ranked again, but they're both.

[Chip Patterson]

Teams that I don't.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, okay. But better.

[Chip Patterson]

Hey, listen, start counting up wins against bowl teams in these bloated conferences. Having a couple wins against bowl teams get you a little bit farther than you might realize.

[Tom Fornelli]

If they're 6 and 6.

[Chip Patterson]

Well, right now we've already got 6 and 3. Mizzou, we've got 5 might lose out.

[Tom Fornelli]

They've lost their starting quarterback. LSU's 5 and 4 now you're just making. They're playing, they're playing in the sec, the most difficult conference in the world. They could easily lose out. But the point is regardless, they have to lose out if Oklahoma beats them. So there's some losses on their resume. I lost and that's not going to boost Oklahoma. Like beating those teams isn't going to do anything for Oklahoma, at least not as far as getting them back into the playoff mix. So then at the end of the year they would have beaten Michigan. So they need Michigan to win out clearly from the start. That is the first thing they need if they lose. But your losses are to Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. Your best win at that point is Michigan or Tennessee. But it'd probably be Michigan because they're very much ahead of Tennessee right now. Is a 9 and 3 team whose best win is Michigan or Tennessee getting in? I don't think so.

[Chip Patterson]

I think that they would have some fairly strong resume metrics that would at least make it easy to make the argument to put them in ahead of a byu, ahead of Miami, like have, like those would be the conversations that I think we'd be having. I think that their record strength, I think their strength to schedule, I think all those other things.

[Tom Fornelli]

What about a 3 loss Texas? Are they getting it ahead of them?

[Chip Patterson]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

Okay then. So Oklahoma needs to win.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, I think they're, I think their hopes are done if they lose.

[Chip Patterson]

You think a three loss Oklahoma is cooks?

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. If it has, if it's going to be compared to a three loss Texas because odds are Texas is going to lose at least one of their next three games.

[Chip Patterson]

Texas could lose too.

[Danny Cannell]

Texas twice.

[Tom Fornelli]

So they need Michigan to keep winning in Texas to lose twice. But I maintain the thing that they really need to do is beat Alabama.

[Danny Cannell]

Yep.

[Chip Patterson]

I would agree, obviously. I mean you, you throw that in, you are, you throw that in, you might have wiggle room.

[Tom Fornelli]

Then you start wondering what happens to Alabama?

[Chip Patterson]

What about Georgia and Texas?

[Danny Cannell]

I still think it's going to be incredibly hard to get a three loss team in. So I think Texas needs to win. Now granted, it's not impossible. We're seeing all these strength of schedules been such a point of contention. They did play Ohio State better than anybody else in the country. So I think the better chance of a three loss team probably is Texas because of that Ohio State loss was so close. It's such a good loss. And it was Arch's first start. You know, you got on the road.

[Chip Patterson]

I think Texas, you know, we talked about a three loss team making the College Football Playoff at the beginning of the season. I think we are sitting here on November 11th and it's either Texas or Oklahoma and that's it. Those are your only chances.

[Tom Fornelli]

I would imagine so, yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Can you imagine how insufferable the state of Texas is going to be if Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A and.

[Chip Patterson]

M all make the playoffs and North Texas don't let.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, God. Wow. If they make up a full third of the field.

[Danny Cannell]

The Texas Invitational. Wow.

[Tom Fornelli]

Play the game at like Lake Travis's Stadium.

[Chip Patterson]

What was it when we had. Oh, gosh, is that Baylor and Houston, Remember the Final Four? Was there a third Texas team that was also in there? Was it just Baylor and Houston?

[Tom Fornelli]

Thought it was and it was. Maybe you're the basketball guy.

[Chip Patterson]

You know, it's a scramble.

[Tom Fornelli]

Danny. He's asking us who the Final Four was a couple years ago.

[Chip Patterson]

All right. Sort of open, open table here. Danny, I know that you're gonna have your. Your winners and losers coming up on CBS Sports HQ in a little bit. The other places where your eyes go when looking at the new rankings release.

[Danny Cannell]

I mean, at least we have a U. USF ranked. Congrats to the group of five for making the board the big board. You don't have to go nr. It's still a pretty big jump for them, but I do think it's. That was the favorite from the odds makers as well. So good on that. I thought that one. I. Tom and I were talking before you popped in here though, Chip. I was like, I don't know how much drama there's gonna be. Like, I just don't know how much we're gonna learn. And who are the real winners and losers. Pretty straightforward. Like you could say the ACC are losers, but they already lost on the field. So like we knew they were going to get dropped, you know, like. So I don't. I don't know. I didn't really see much drama coming in.

[Chip Patterson]

We. It doesn't need to be drama. You can't make cops. Right? You know, I mean, look, I think.

[Danny Cannell]

This whole exercise is a sham.

[Chip Patterson]

Whoa, whoa.

[Tom Fornelli]

There you go. Whoa.

[Chip Patterson]

Danny. On Veterans Day.

[Danny Cannell]

Oh, that's right.

[Chip Patterson]

Did you know that Rich Clark served this nation through three?

[Danny Cannell]

Proof that is true.

[Chip Patterson]

He was a lieutenant general in the Air Force through the Gulf War.

[Danny Cannell]

That's true.

[Chip Patterson]

Award I gamut Afghanistan and the Iraq war. And you're going to tell Rich Clark on Veterans Day. On one side, thank you for your service and on the other side, your process is a sham.

[Danny Cannell]

I am supporting the truth director.

[Chip Patterson]

The executive director of the College Football Playoff is an actual veteran. And on Veterans Day.

[Danny Cannell]

On Veterans Day, I am supporting the troops with my hat. This is a folds of honor hat from the tournament yesterday. Had a great time playing golf. Some veterans heard some great stories. Really good times. Do you guys know what the 13 stands for?

[Chip Patterson]

I don't.

[Tom Fornelli]

The stripes.

[Danny Cannell]

How many folds are in the folded flag that they give to a when.

[Chip Patterson]

All the triangles start coming together.

[Danny Cannell]

I had no idea. I thought it was pretty cool.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. When to There are different places in this great country where to watch the routine and the ritual of. Of the colors is cool. You know, a quiet morning, you know, like sunset at different places. Yeah. Grow up. Grow up around some. Some military in this state. So you, you definitely end up seeing it from time to time. Happy.

[Danny Cannell]

I love Rich Clark.

[Chip Patterson]

He is awesome service. And Danny continues to hate on Rich Clark on Veterans Day, which boggles the mind. Truly boggles the mind.

[Tom Fornelli]

You wanna get like overly pedantic for a second?

[Chip Patterson]

I. I really think that we're to that point. Yes.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right, good. Anybody else surprised by Cincinnati being 25?

[Chip Patterson]

There was enough shakeup when we were talking about tomorrow's top 25 today that if you just needed to grab some teams. Cincinnati is a perfectly fine two loss power conference team.

[Tom Fornelli]

But given the committee's affinity for the big two, you're not surprised. There's like not a three loss SEC or Big Ten team over there over Cincinnati whose best win is Iowa State.

[Chip Patterson]

If Washington's win wasn't to Wisconsin, you know, like if like some of those losses, some of those losses were bad losses. You can't. Iowa. I mean, to, to how soft? I guess the bubble. We would say the true bubble is up there around, you know, 10 or 11. But if you were to talk about the fringe of the top 25 as the bubble, the fact that Iowa lost and dropped from 20 to 21 indicates how soft that bubble was.

[Tom Fornelli]

But like the last we saw Cincinnati, it was losing by 31.

[Chip Patterson]

The full body of working.

[Danny Cannell]

They should say something that Bren Soresby was hurt or something. I need to come up with some excuse to sell.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean, I'll say here's the excuse. You had to go. You had to go to Salt Lake City and play a fight. 10:15 Eastern Leggets. That's the excuse you, you had to take on an adverse situation. Yeah. Tennessee still hanging on. I don't know, Tom, like who those teams would be if you weren't going to start grab bagging teams from the American and I just don't think this committee was going to do that.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, off the top of my head, I know a three loss team on the Big Ten who has a better strength record and a top 10 strength of schedule.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, that would be the Illinois Fighting Illini.

[Tom Fornelli]

Mm.

[Chip Patterson]

Just, just take, take that chip on the shoulder into Texas Tech tonight.

[Tom Fornelli]

But also like my point, like you might mention that Illinois, you know, its losses have been by a lot of points. I just mentioned how much was Cincinnati's last loss by.

[Chip Patterson]

I didn't mention Illinois.

[Tom Fornelli]

No, I'm saying that's the pushback on Illinois. But Cincinnati is coming off of a 31 point loss.

[Danny Cannell]

Right. I mean Illinois, like that's 53, 31.

[Tom Fornelli]

And Illinois has a win over a.

[Chip Patterson]

Ranked team and better strength, the schedule, strength of record. You're right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. But that's fine. We'll just take it out on Texas Tech. Like you said.

[Chip Patterson]

The real question is, do you think that's more of a, do you think that's more of a Mark d' Antonio thing or do you think that's more of like a, is that more of like a Jeff Long thing?

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, it's Jeff Long. Mark Dantonio would definitely be all for Illinois.

[Chip Patterson]

Like which of those committee members, like, is it the sitting athletics director at Baylor, Arkansas, Nebraska, Virginia, Miami, Ohio or Middle Tennessee who would take it out on Illinois? Or do you think it would be Jeff Long who obviously you know, Arkansas, Kansas, Wesley Walls, the Ole Miss legend and Carolina Panthers legend Ivan Maisel. Maybe even, maybe he didn't have a good relationship with somebody at Illinois back in the day. Mark d', Antonio, you say is probably not it. Mike Riley had a horrible time in the Big Ten.

[Tom Fornelli]

He did.

[Chip Patterson]

He did not enjoy that. And then I don't think it'd be Crystal. Crystal. It's a man of a man of.

[Tom Fornelli]

Stature here because he's all to the earth.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. Important to remember that these committee rankings are being put together by humans with a veteran leading the way.

[Tom Fornelli]

And also shout out to the committee for working on a holiday.

[Chip Patterson]

Geez.

[Danny Cannell]

Yeah, does that right.

[Tom Fornelli]

Imagine having to work on a holiday. Wow.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, that is, that's, that's great stuff. I, I, Mack Rhodes, Hunter Yuricheck, A.

[Tom Fornelli]

Lot of people out there with reasons.

[Chip Patterson]

A lot of people, they're doing a good job. They're doing a great job. Okay, last call here. Anything else? We'll turn our attention to big game breakdown. That's it? Yeah, that's it. All right. We will be back Wednesday, 11am Eastern Time to be able to get you set for week 12 going inside the matchup. Yeah, the best bets are going to be coming on Thursday, but we want to go under the hood for Georgia, Texas, for Alabama, Oklahoma and the rest of the week 12 slate. So we'll let you know. Plus day trading Danny and more. And you can follow him on Twitter at Tom Friedel. You can follow him at Danny Cannell. You, you can follow me at Chippatterson. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

[Tom Fornelli]

You're welcome.

[Danny Cannell]

See ya.

[Chip Patterson]

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