Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)

Who’s in? We’ll soon find out

- By Ralph D. Russo

matter of what order to put the game? Alabama and Oregon. The Buckeyes were fifth in

The Crimson Tide folthe playoff rankings heading WACO, TEXAS » — Alabama lowed the Ducks’ lead on into the Big Ten championis in. So is Oregon. That we Saturday in Atlanta, wallopship game, and didn’t miss know for sure about the Coling Missouri 42-13 to win Heisman Trophy candidate lege Football Playoff after the the Southeaste­rn ConferJ.T. Barrett one bit. Cardale top two teams in the selecence championsh­ip. Oregon Jones was spectacula­r and tion committee’s rankings beat Arizona 51-13 to win the the Buckeyes smothered Wisromped in their conference Pac-12 championsh­ip Friday consin star Melvin Gordon. championsh­ip games. night. The Bears (11-1), sixth in

The contenders didn’t No need to worry, SEC the rankings, now can call make it easy on the selecfans. The conference that themselves Big 12 champs, tion committee Saturday, dominated the BCS era will too, after beating Kansas ensuring some drama and be represente­d in the playoff. State 38-27. They’re co-chambicker­ing Sunday after the Maybe underrepre­sented in pions, but with a victory field for the first playoff is the minds of many in the against TCU back in October. revealed. Deep South, but that’s anThat 61-58 comeback win

Florida State? The Semother debate. in Waco hasn’t been enough inoles are far from perfect, Both the Tide and Ducks to convince the committee but they are still unbeaten. made a case to be No. 1, but that the Bears are better

TCU? The Horned Frogs it might not matter much. than the Frogs nor is it bewere third last week and Expect Alabama to be in the ing used as a tiebreaker in certainly did nothing to hurt semifinal held at the Sugar the Big 12. The conference that on Championsh­ip SaturBowl in New Orleans and Orthat doesn’t have a title day. Baylor and Ohio State egon to be at the one held at game held two trophy cerpresent­ed winning final arthe Rose Bowl in Pasadena, emonies Saturday — one in guments, too. California. Fort Worth and the other in

The Buckeyes were so Who they’ll play is still up Waco. It’s up to the 12-memgood against Wisconsin in in the air. ber selection committee to the Big Ten championsh­ip The Horned Frogs (11-1) figure out which team is betgame — withter.athird-string were the only contender not quarterbac­k — that they playing a ranked team SaturAs for Florida State (13might have helped the selecday. The Frogs did what was 0), the defending national tion committee solve its Big expected to Iowa State, burychampi­ons have done noth12 problem. ing the Big 12’s worst team ing but win and fall in the

Instead of choosing be55-3. TCU earned a share rankings. tween the Big 12’s co-chamof the conference title but Yet again, the Seminoles pions, the 12-member panel couldn’t feel totally comforthad to fight and claw. But could pass on both and go able in a sure playoff spot. they extended their winning with the Big Ten’s best team. The committee has said streak, this time with a 37-35

Figuring out who takes it would start with a clean victory against Georgia Tech the No. 3 and No. 4 spots is slate when it ranks teams in the Atlantic Coast Confergoin­g to take some work. As each week. Could it really ence title game. Make it 29 in for No. 1 and No. 2, it’s just a demote the Frogs this late in a row for the Noles.

 ?? BRYNN ANDERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Alabama head coach Nick Saban and players celebrate after with the Southeaste­rn Conference championsh­ip trophy after beating Missouri on Saturday.
BRYNN ANDERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Alabama head coach Nick Saban and players celebrate after with the Southeaste­rn Conference championsh­ip trophy after beating Missouri on Saturday.

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