Rankings: Clemson Regains 4th; Notre Dame Up To 2nd

December 13, 2020 by Staff

The new top 4 of the Congrove Computer Rankings, released Sunday morning, factors in the power rating changes for each of those schools playing in a conference championship game this coming week.

Thus, you'll see teams like Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame had by 'adding' another game against foes like Florida (Alabama), and each other for Notre Dame and Clemson. Meanwhile, Ohio State loses power points for 'adding' Northwestern. These are not human changes. A key component in the algorithm to determining schedule strength is the average power rating of every school on its schedule. It has fluctuated for most teams throughout the season, not just by on-field results, but also by the schedule changes made necessary by covid flare-ups. The latter - constant schedule changes - is the anomaly of 2020.

More games could be added this week which would again alter the numbers. Those changes will be reflected in next week's rankings.

Interestingly, the top 4 now more closely reflects the committee's top 4. The only difference is a flip in positions of Clemson and Ohio State. The committee has the Tigers and Buckeyes 4th.

Alabama remains the top team in the computer rankings while Notre Dame moves up 1 spot to second, Ohio State down 1 to third, and Clemson up 1 top 4th. USC ticked downward ever-so-slightly in power ratings, but enough to eject the Trojans from the final four and in to the 5th-place slot.

USC was a 43-38 comeback winner over UCLA on Saturday. but many of the top 10 teams did not see action over the weekend, either because games were canceled by Covid issues or because they already had a bye week.

Alabama played and crushed Arkansas 52-3, while Notre Dame and Clemson wee idle. Ohio State's game with Michigan was canceled by Covid, as was 6th-ranked Texas A&M's game with Ole Miss.

Florida played and was upset at home by LSU, 37-34, dropping the Gators from 6th to 9th.

7trh-ranked Indiana's game with Purdue, 8th-ranked Cincinnati's game at Tulsa, and 10th-ranked Oklahoma's date with West Virginia all met the same fate for the same reason.

SEE: Complete Rankings