Joey Galloway commends committee on Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin

On Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee provided its updated rankings heading into Week 12. Without much movement at the top, the focus was shifted further down the board to teams ranked No. 8-25, with several telling moves which will impact strength of schedule and bowl placement.

ESPN college football analyst Joey Galloway commended the committee for recognizing Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin for the team they’ve become, not the team which started the season.

“It’s interesting these teams we’re watching now,” Galloway said on ESPN’s CFP rankings reveal show. “Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin these are teams that found their identity in running the football and not turning it over. Good defense. That’s the difference in Notre Dame now. From midseason on, that offensive line has been outstanding protecting Jack Coan in the backfield and running the football. Oklahoma State same thing, running the football. Wisconsin, running the football. These teams have figured it out and found an identity and they’re getting respect for it.”

Notre Dame is the highest ranked by the CFP selection committee, coming in at No. 8. Oklahoma State ranks No. 9 and Wisconsin – despite three loses – ranks No. 15. As Joey Galloway points out, the three started low in the AP and coaches’ polls but caught the CFP selection committee’s attention with increasingly impressive performances.

Michigan – ranked No. 6 in the country – fits the mold as well. The Wolverines climbed into contention slowly with an old-fashioned run game and stout defense which the CFP selection committee noticed. In a season with upsets and disappointing performances every week, the consistency created by these teams has created value.

Gary Barta on undefeated records

Gary Barta took his usual line of questions from ESPN’s Rece Davis, addressing the committee’s value on undefeated records, especially in a season filled with upsets.

“Being undefeated, it’s hard to do in any season at any level,” said Barta. “But we also – that’s why sometimes we have teams ranked – a one-loss team or maybe even a two-loss team someday ahead of an undefeated team because you look at the strength of schedule. You look at who beat who and who’s on that schedule – who they lost to, who they beat. So it’s not just about having a zero.

“There are a lot of upsets, I haven’t really paid attention to whether there are more upsets this year. I know early in the season that was the case – we had a couple this week – but not as many this week as in past weeks. So we’re just going to keep watching. There’s a lot of football left to be played and we’ll see what happens going forward.”