The fourth edition of the College Football Playoff rankings produced a change to the theoretical playoff field.
Washington rose to No. 4 in Tuesday’s rankings, its highest of the season. The Huskies defeated then-No. 11 Oregon State 22-20 and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw two more touchdowns to total 30 on the year.
PODCAST: Despite chalk at the top, week 12 had intrigue
No. 5 Florida State dropped a place in the rankings, and the loss of quarterback Jordan Travis looms large.
Here are several players and notes to keep a tab on in this week’s Big Board.
It’s rivalry week
The final week of the regular season is here.
Matchups such as “The Game” between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, the in-state rivalry between No. 13 Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and the Iron Bowl between No. 8 Alabama and Auburn are among the notable bouts this week.
What’s on the line this week?
Well, a spot in the Big Ten Championship game is on the line in Ann Arbor. No. 6 Oregon has virtually locked up a spot in the Pac-12 title game, awaiting a potential rematch with No. 4 Washington, while the Ducks will play No. 16 Oregon State.
No. 7 Texas can clinch a Big 12 Championship game berth with a win over Texas Tech on Friday, and the Longhorns will need to watch multiple games in order to find out their potential opponent.
No. 13 Oklahoma will host TCU, and No. 20 Oklahoma State will play BYU. The Cowboys have an advantage over the Sooners due to their head-to-head matchup that saw Oklahoma fall 27-24.
So while the CFP picture is mostly clear, and becoming clearer each week, the conference championship scene still has some things yet to unfold.
Welcome to rivalry week.
Jayden Daniels, LSU and Bo Nix, Oregon
Fourteen touchdowns, two players.
That’s what LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Oregon’s Bo Nix combined to do last weekend in their respective matchups.
READ: Quotables: Week 12
Daniels tied Joe Burrow for the LSU program record accounting for eight touchdowns in one game. He threw for six and rushed for two as the Tigers defeated Georgia State 56-14.
Nix, on the other hand, had a six-touchdown performance for the second time in three games. He tied the Ducks’ single-game record in passing touchdowns, and Nix received Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for a conference-record seventh time.
So where do these two quarterbacks sit in the Heisman Trophy odds?
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Daniels has –110 odds to win the Heisman and Nix has +125 odds, which are second-best.
These are two of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. Both are on teams with slightly different seasonal paths as Oregon stands No. 6 in the country while LSU is No. 15.
Both Daniels and Nix could receive invitations to the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in New York City on Dec. 9. LSU will face Texas A&M on Saturday and the Ducks will play No. 11 Oregon State during rivalry week, and both quarterbacks will have a chance to lock up Heisman moments to compete for the sport’s most prestigious individual trophy.
How will Travis’ injury affect No. 5 Florida State’s season?
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a horrific left leg injury last Saturday against North Alabama.
He announced on Monday that the injury will end his college career, and the sixth-year quarterback will finish with 69 total touchdowns as a Seminole.
The question next becomes whether or not Florida State can continue to play the way it has this season down the stretch and into the College Football Playoff, which it could reach for the first time since 2014.
The CFP Selection Committee does factor in player availability into its rankings, and this week saw the committee drop the Seminoles to No. 5. Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker did throw two touchdowns and for over 200 yards in his appearance after Travis’ injury.
READ: Stat Pack: Week 12
Florida State already has a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game coming up against No. 10 Louisville on Dec. 2.
If the Seminoles can continue their winning ways and win out the rest of the season, perhaps they’ll return to the CFP top-four and get back to the Playoff for the first time since 2014.
