As everyone knows this is the first season of the College Football Playoff. Four teams will make it and everyone else will have some nice parting gifts. Take note that these rankings aren’t the Top 4 teams in the country, they’re the four teams with the best chance to make the playoff.

#1 Florida State Seminoles

27 straight wins, although most of them in 2014 haven’t been esthetically pleasing. The ‘Noles “game control” stats and strength of schedule do not look great but they keep winning football games. Assuming they take down Florida and Georgia Tech there is simply no way the committee can keep a Power 5 undefeated out of the mix.

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama struggled mightily in the first half with their “cupcake game” in preparation for next week’s Iron Bowl. The Tide have the advantage of a back-loaded schedule which if they win out will be enough to get them into the playoff and likely with the top seed.

#3 Oregon Ducks

Oregon is playing the best football of any team in the nation. Although all of these teams are just one loss away from being knocked out, Oregon has Oregon State and the Pac 12 title game to go. Assuming they win both of those, and they will be heavy favorites to do so, the Ducks will be in.

#4 TCU Horned Frogs

Although TCU may not pass the committee’s “eye test” they should win out and have a share of the Big 12 championship on their resume. When all is said and done TCU’s resume is better than Mississippi State’s and the Bulldogs will be hurt by missing the SEC title game. TCU’s biggest competition in the room will be Baylor, not Mississippi State.

Again, these aren’t the best four teams in the nation, they’re the teams that are most likely to make it into the national playoff. We believe that there will be a great amount of diversity in the committee’s selections and it remains to be seen how much weight they will put into conference champions.