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College Football Playoff Power Ranking — Where the contenders stand heading into Week 4

We are now three weeks into the college football season, and the College Football Playoff picture is starting to clear up.

Three teams were effectively eliminated from playoff contention, with Arizona State, Ole Miss, and USC all suffering losses that erased any dreams they may have had. That leaves us with about 26 teams that are still on the playoff radar, with six or seven of those standing above the rest.

We have learned a few things over the years about how the committee picks the final four teams, and we have some idea of what teams need to do to make the playoff. Below, we ranked the top 20 teams in the country based on their chances to make the playoff.

20. Texas A&M

Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (22)

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Last week's result: Beat Louisiana-Monroe, 48-10

Last week's playoff rank: Unranked

Key games remaining: A&M has Alabama (this week), Mississippi State, Auburn, and South Carolina on the road. All of those are before a season-ending home game against LSU.

One thing to know: Other teams that were considered for this final spot included Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Duke, Texas, TCU, and Oregon. These teams are all mostly interchangeable at this point. Not eliminated yet, but not quite on the radar either.

19. Wisconsin

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Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (18)

Last week's result: Lost to BYU, 24-21

Last week's playoff rank: 7

Key games remaining: Wisconsin still has

One thing to know: Two regular-season losses looked like a real possibility for Wisconsin because of their schedule, but now it seems probable after a loss to BYU. Iowa now has an easier path to the Big Ten title game.

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18. Iowa

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (unranked)

Last week's result: Beat Northern Iowa, 38-14

Last week's playoff rank: unranked

Key games remaining: Iowa has Wisconsin at home this week. Their only other game against a ranked team is Penn State on the road in late October.

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One thing to know: With Wisconsin losing to BYU, Iowa suddenly feels like a legit contender in the Big Ten West. If the Hawkeyes can beat Wisconsin this weekend, there is a possibility that Iowa is 11-1 heading into the B1G title game.

17. UCF

Record (AP Rank): 2-0 (16)

Last week's result: Game was canceled due to weather

Last week's playoff rank: 17

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Key games remaining:

One thing to know: UCF didn't play because of Hurricane Florence, but they still got a big win when Boise State lost to Oklahoma State. That game established UCF as

16. Auburn

Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (9)

Last week's result: Lost to LSU, 22-21

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Last week's playoff rank: 8

Key games remaining: Auburn has already faced Washington and LSU.

One thing to know: Auburn is one of the ten best teams in the country, but the loss to LSU at home felt like a near-elimination game. They will probably have to run the table at this point, and that seems unlikely with their schedule.

15. West Virginia

Record (AP Rank): 2-0 (12)

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Last week's result: Game was canceled due to weather.

Last week's playoff rank: 14

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: It was easier to feel like West Virginia had a shot at the playoff before the season. But since then, Oklahoma has proven they haven't regressed, and Oklahoma State has entered the Big 12 picture a legit contender.

14. Mississippi State

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Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (14)

Last week's result: Beat Louisiana, 56-10

Last week's playoff rank: 16

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: It is just hard to imagine Mississippi State being the last team standing in a division that also has Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and Texas A&M. But until they do lose, they are still in the picture.

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13. Oklahoma State

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (15)

Last week's result: Beat Boise State, 44-21

Last week's playoff rank: unranked

Key games remaining: Texas at home might be the only thing standing between OSU and being 9-0 heading into their matchup with the Sooners in mid-November on the road. They then finish the season with West Virginia at home and TCU on the road.

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One thing to know: Oklahoma State took down a Boise State team that was actually favored in Stillwater.

12. Miami

Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (21)

Last week's result: Beat Toledo, 49-24

Last week's playoff rank: 18

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Key games remaining:

One thing to know: That opening week loss to LSU is still ugly, but it doesn't seem as bad now.

11 Michigan

Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (19)

Last week's result: Beat SMU, 45-20

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Last week's playoff rank: 15

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: The Big Ten is never easy, but the path to the title game doesn't seem as formidable for Michigan now with Wisconsin and Michigan State both looking like lesser teams so far.

10. Stanford

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (7)

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Last week's result: Beat UC Davis, 30-10

Last week's playoff rank: 10

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: The voters really love Stanford, pushing them all the way up to No. 7 this week in the AP poll despite no truly impressive wins yet. Ultimately, their path to the playoff is the same as Washington — win the head-to-head and win the Pac-12 title game. The difference is, Stanford has a couple of other games to worry about.

9. Penn State

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Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (10)

Last week's result: Beat Kent State, 63-10

Last week's playoff rank: 13

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: The OT win over Appalachian State is starting to look more like an aberration than a sign that Penn State might struggle this season.

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8. Notre Dame

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (8)

Last week's result: Beat Vanderbilt, 22-17

Last week's playoff rank:

Key games remaining:

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One thing to know: This was a decent Vandy squad, and a win is a win. But Notre Dame has not looked like a dominant playoff contender since their Week 1 win over Michigan, and the schedule is only going to get more difficult.

7. Washington

Record (AP Rank): 2-1 (10)

Last week's result: Beat Utah, 21-7

Last week's playoff rank: 9

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Key games remaining:

One thing to know: Washington is either the worst team among the top group or the best team in the second tier.

6. LSU

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (6)

Last week's result: Beat Auburn, 22-21

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Last week's playoff rank: 12

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: LSU's schedule is brutal, but so far, so good. They have already taken down Miami and Auburn, and neither game was at home. The Tigers are starting to build a resume that could get them into the playoff even if they lose to Alabama and don't make the SEC title game. They would likely still need a win over Georgia. If Alabama and Georgia are both undefeated in the SEC title game, LSU is not getting into the playoff as a third SEC team with two losses.

5. Oklahoma

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (5)

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Last week's result: Beat Iowa State, 37-27

Last week's playoff rank: 5

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: Iowa State is probably the best 0-2 team in the country and Oklahoma took them down rather easily in the Cyclones' home opener. While the score was close, it never felt like OU was going to lose this one. Nothing happened that suggested the Sooners aren't still the class of the Big 12.

4. Ohio State

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Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (4)

Last week's result: Beat TCU, 40-28

Last week's playoff rank: 4

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: Ohio State survived their one big test of the Urban Meyer suspension, scoring 40 points against a good TCU defense.

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3. Clemson

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (3)

Last week's result: Beat Georgia Southern, 38-7

Last week's playoff rank: 3

Key games remaining:

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One thing to know:

2. Georgia

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (2)

Last week's result: Beat Middle Tennessee State, 49-7

Last week's playoff rank: 2

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Key games remaining:

One thing to know: We could see a situation this season where Alabama and Georgia are both undefeated in the SEC title game with only seeding in the playoff on the line.

1. Alabama

Record (AP Rank): 3-0 (1)

Last week's result: Beat Ole Miss, 62-7

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Last week's playoff rank: 1

Key games remaining:

One thing to know: Last week there were some whispers that Georgia might be the best team in the country. Alabama quickly quieted those thoughts with an absolute thrashing of an Ole Miss team on the road.

Now check out what happened to college football's best players.

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