![The College Football Playoffs rankings discussion continues. [Photo via Flickr Creative Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2016/11/20/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-college-football-playoffs-rankings-discussion-continues-photo-via-flickr-creative-commons_990161.jpg "The College Football Playoffs rankings discussion continues. [Photo via Flickr Creative Commons]")
The NCAA college Football playoff rankings for 2016 will be heating up as the season gets closer to bowl games and conference championships. This past weekend saw Ohio State escape with a close win over a lowly Big Ten foe, while the Oklahoma Sooners took West Virginia down on their home field for a "statement win." Here's a look at some predictions for how teams will fare when the polls come out for the new week of
Earlier in the week, one of the top teams suffered a loss and they seem to have moved out of any possible playoff conversation. Here's a look at some predictions for how teams will fare when the polls and college football playoff rankings come out for the new week of NCAA college football action.
Oklahoma's playoff hopes still alive?
On Saturday, the Sooners were able to head into Morgantown, West Virginia and win a key game against their conference foes. The end result was a dominant 56-28 victory over the Mountaineers which has Oklahoma still undefeated in conference play. They're currently 8-0 in the Big 12 but have two losses on their record.
Those two losses came early in the season against Houston and Ohio State. Of those two teams, the Buckeyes are ranked in the top three teams in the Top 25 polls and are considered amongst playoff contenders. The Sooners still have a slim shot at getting there, but they will need to win their conference game against rivals Oklahoma State in a few weeks to help possibly convince the committee.
It's not a conference championship but could be close enough. Expect the Sooners to move up to possibly join the top five teams this coming week, though. That will certainly make things interesting as they prepare for the Cowboys in their upcoming in-state rivalry game.
Louisville's hopes crushed
The No. 5 team in the football rankings didn't fare so well in a game ahead of Saturday's action.
The Louisville Cardinals suffered a 36-10 defeat at the hands of the Houston Cougars. That will likely end any chance that the Cardinals had of being mentioned for a playoff spot once the regular season concludes.
What it will do is shake up the rankings some. Louisville will likely drop out of the top ten teams and to around the No.
12 spot. Houston will rise up in the rankings, though.
The Cougars now have defeated three Top 25 teams. They defeated Oklahoma earlier in the season as well as the Florida Gators. They could snatch the No. 21 spot in the rankings for the coming week.
Top four still remain
Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson have all remained within contention for the College Football playoffs. The No. 1 Crimson Tide topped Chattanooga 31-3, while No. 2 Ohio State defeated Michigan State with just a 17-16 victory.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Michigan defeated Big Ten opponent Indiana 20-10 to move to 7-1 in the conference. In the ACC, No. 4 Clemson visited Wake Forest and came away with a 35-13 victory.
All four of those college teams are expected to keep a hold on their spots in the top of the rankings and should continue to be mentioned for a possible playoff appearance.
However, the coming week will feature a game with major potential playoff implications.
On Saturday at noon, the Wolverines will visit the Buckeyes as the No. 3 and No. 2 teams compete, so stay tuned to see how the Big Ten shakes out next weekend.
