Projecting the CFP top 12 after Week 8: Big move for Bama

On Sunday, the 13 members of the College Football Playoff enactment committee volition bash thing they've ne'er done earlier -- they're going to conscionable for 2 days astatine the Gaylord Texan Resort successful Grapevine, Texas, for what they're calling a "level set" meeting. It's an aboriginal accidental for the full radical to get unneurotic and sermon what they've seen truthful acold without releasing a ranking.

And they saw a batch successful Week 8.

Undefeated Miami went down successful a stunning nonaccomplishment astatine location to Louisville. Undefeated Ole Miss went down. Undefeated Texas Tech went down. Undefeated Memphis went down. And Alabama made a lawsuit to determination up.

There was a batch of question successful Week 8, and the committee members volition bash their ain mock ranking to assistance the caller members amended recognize the process. They volition usage the results to-date, but the archetypal of six existent rankings won't beryllium revealed until Nov. 4. The jockeying for apical seeds, first-round byes and first-round location games continues, but Week 8's apical 12 projection is simply a snapshot of who's got the aboriginal borderline if the ranking were released today.

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Projecting the apical 12

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)

Ohio State (7-0) Why they could beryllium here: The Buckeyes' grip connected the apical spot got tighter aft Miami's location nonaccomplishment to Louisville connected Friday night, but the Hoosiers are connected their heels. Ohio State bushed Wisconsin connected the roadworthy with ease, earning its 3rd Big Ten roadworthy win. The Buckeyes entered Saturday ranked successful the apical 5 successful some violative and antiaircraft efficiencies -- and No. 2 wide successful full ratio -- according to ESPN Analytics. They were besides No. 2 successful Game Control and No. 3 successful Strength of Record -- each metrics that bespeak the full bundle the committee is looking for with oculus trial and résumé.

Why they could beryllium lower: There would beryllium immoderate committee members who see Indiana for the apical spot, arsenic the undefeated Hoosiers' roadworthy triumph astatine Oregon remains the champion successful the country. IU is connected par with Ohio State statistically, ranking No. 1 successful ESPN's Strength of Record metric, and No. 3 successful Game Control. Ohio State's nonconference triumph against Texas, though, would loom ample successful the country arsenic a separating factor.

Need to know: Ohio State and Indiana are connected way to look each different successful the Big Ten rubric game. If that comes to fruition and they are some undefeated, the loser of the crippled tin inactive gain a top-four effect and a first-round bye due to the fact that those spots are nary longer reserved for league champions. ESPN Analytics gives Ohio State astatine slightest a 50% accidental to triumph each of its remaining games and the champion accidental successful the league to scope the Big Ten championship.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 astatine Michigan. The Buckeyes are trying to debar a 5th consecutive nonaccomplishment to their rivals.

2. Indiana Hoosiers (7-0)

Why they could beryllium here: Indiana moved up 1 spot aft beating Michigan State and arsenic a effect of Miami losing to Louisville, but the Hoosiers are present due to the fact that they won astatine Oregon connected Oct. 11. The double-digit triumph snapped the Ducks' 18-game location winning streak and legitimized IU's playoff hopes. More than that, it enactment the Hoosiers successful contention for a top-four effect and first-round bye. They continued to physique upon that connected Saturday against the Spartans, earning their 4th consecutive Big Ten win, including 2 connected the road. One of the biggest differences betwixt IU and Ohio State successful the eyes of the committee would beryllium the Buckeyes' nonconference triumph against Texas, which trumps IU's wins against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State.

Why they could beryllium higher: Indiana's triumph against Oregon is inactive amended than Ohio State's champion win, and the Hoosiers entered Week 8 ranked No. 1 successful ESPN's Strength of Record metric. T...