Some seismic events occurred in Week 12 that dramatically affected theCollege Football Playoff race. Did the selection committee react to those affairs correctly?
There's no such thing as continuity in college football, evident in the latest weekend of action with two top 10 teams inAlabamaandTexas losingwhile the teams that beat them inGeorgiaandOklahoma boosting their resumes. Those results − among others − shifted how several squads are positioned, and there's bound to be some elation or frustration from where they are slotted heading into Week 13.
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With the pressure turning up on the selection committee with just two weeks left in the regular season, here are the grades for every single team in the Nov. 18 release of the College Football Playoff rankings.
1. Ohio State: A+
TheBuckeyeshave a strong grip on the No. 1 spot, and it would take a loss for Ohio State to go down the rankings.
2. Indiana: A+
No nail-biting was needed against Wisconsin, andIndianaaffirms its positioning at the two spot.
3. Texas A&M: A+
After needing some dramatic heroics to beat South Carolina, the perfect record keepsTexas A&Mfrom dropping down.
4. Georgia: A+
WithAlabama's loss and the win over Texas, theBulldogsrightfully have a chance for a first-round bye.
5. Texas Tech: A
Texas Techgets this week off, and still has a chance to get a top four spot if it keeps dominating Big 12 competition in its last two games.
6. Mississippi: B+
It nearly got dangerous against Florida, yetMississippigets to move up a spot after a shaky performance.
7. Oregon: B-
The goal forOregonis to obviously beat Southern California, but there has to be some worry about its fate if it doesn't win.
8. Oklahoma: B
Beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa is one of the best wins of the season, butOklahomalikely hoped for a bigger jump.
9. Notre Dame: A-
Dominating Pittsburgh was an impressive victory that could have rewardedNotre Damewith a move up, but the resume is hard to compare to the Sooners.
10. Alabama: C+
Even with four wins against ranked teams,Alabamawas reminded theFlorida Stateloss still carries weight, and the playoff outlook looks unfortunately shaky.
11. BYU: B-
The one-lossCougarsstill have a chance for an at-large spot, but some more help is going to be needed.
12. Utah: B+
As long as BYU stays ahead, it's a long shot forUtahto get into the field.
13. Miami: A-
Yes,Miamiis the ACC's best chance in the playoff. But the Hurricanes also don't control their destiny for the automatic spot.
14. Vanderbilt: A
Good on the committee for not movingVanderbiltup on an off week. It'll be interesting to see if teams behind can leapfrog over theCommodores.
15. Southern California: A-
A case could be made forUSCto jump ahead over Vanderbilt after a gritty win over Iowa, but the playoff still is possible if the Trojans beat Oregon.
16.Georgia Tech: D-
That was an odd performance against one-win Boston College.Georgia Techshould have dropped at least a spot.
17. Texas: D+
The dramatic free fall ensuresTexasneeds a miracle to make the playoff, but even with three losses, the resume is better than the Yellow Jackets.
18. Michigan: B-
TheWolverinesget lucky staying put after they barely got past a scrappy Northwestern squad.
19. Virginia: B
The position still isn't ideal, but the automatic spot through an ACC title remains more than possible forVirginia.
20. Tennessee: C+
Nothing much to brag about beating New Mexico State, yetTennesseetakes advantage of other teams losing and moves up three spots.
21. Illinois: A-
Illinoishas put up solid back-to-back weeks and it still owns the win over USC earlier this season.
22. Missouri: C
By avoiding a three-game losing streak,Missourigets to jump back in the rankings and help Alabama, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M look better.
23. Houston: F
Even at 8-2,Houstonbarely survived Central Florida and got outplayed by four-win West Virginia before that.
24. Tulane: C+
Tulaneis lucky to be the Group of Five leader considering it doesn't have the best resume in the group.
25.Arizona State: B-
Arizona Statedoes own a win over Texas Tech, but a three-loss team over some worthy Group of Five teams feels strange.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College Football Playoff rankings grades: Oklahoma a B, Alabama a C+
