Georgia and Alabama remain the committee's favorites while the ACC continues to get little respect.
The College Football Playoff committee released its second set of rankings this week, and the big headline is a team that did not even play. Indiana had a bye but still fell five spots, leaving fans and analysts wondering how a program loses ground without taking the field.
Georgia and Alabama remain firmly in the committee's good graces, and the SEC in general continues to draw favorable treatment. The Big 12 is gaining some respect as well, while the ACC remains an afterthought in the committee's eyes.
Oregon and Notre Dame were among the biggest risers this week, climbing after strong showings. On the other end, Mississippi, Ohio State and LSU took the steepest tumbles. Miami also found itself on the wrong side of the committee's assessment, with analysts questioning whether the Hurricanes deserved better placement.
With one team already locked into the field according to current odds, eight others are favored to grab the remaining playoff spots, leaving the last few positions very much in play. Debate continues over whether the committee is overvaluing Alabama relative to teams like Tennessee, and whether idle teams like Indiana should be punished for simply not playing.