Ohio State presents college football with a very modern problem.
The Buckeyes, at least if the Twitter-sphere is to be believed, will likely play for a national crown but won't play for a Big Ten championship, and have said they had no interest in playing for the conference title, preferring instead to rest a week longer for the college football playoff.
Or, perhaps, preferring to avoid a potential blemish on its playoff resume by losing said Big Ten title game.
No matter the reason, the Buckeyes' reticence is the result of the system we have in place to decide the champions of D-I college football. But wouldn't be great to see a best-on-best playoff?
We can't give you that here at Rotoballer HQ, but we can pass along our CFB rankings after Week 13, from our usual fantasy perspective (won-loss records in parentheses).
NCAA College Football (CBB) Rankings
1. Alabama, (12-0)
To be clear, the Crimson Tide played a rivalry game--the Iron Bowl--against a consensus Top 20 team--Auburn--and made it look easy. No talk of skipping conference title games in Tuscaloosa. Tight end O.J. Howard may be your NFL fantasy tight end next season, and he has 35 catches for 404 yards on the season for a run-first team.
2. Clemson, (11-1)
We still prefer the Tigers to the Buckeyes, even as QB Deshaun Watson goes from the sure-fire first overall pick in the 2017 draft to... who knows? Wide receiver Mike Williams (79 catches, 1,114 yards, 10 TDs) will is still a legit first-rounder and a potential difference maker, however.
3. Ohio State, (11-1)
Buckeyes QB J.T. Barrett just bolstered his resume for the NFL Draft--as a running back. Downright awful throwing the ball, Barrett almost singlehandedly beat Michigan with his feet, rushing for 125 yards on 30 carries.
4. Oklahoma, (9-2)
The Sooners took a break before Bedlam. And yet, somehow QB Baker Mayfield's (3,381 passing yards, 35 TDs against only eight picks) Heisman candidacy was enhanced. The "experts" have the junior as the eighth-best signal-caller in the 2018 NFL Draft, but we love his intangibles.
5. Oklahoma State, (9-2)
The 'Pokes were also idle this week, in advance of their rivalry game against Oklahoma, a contest that could determine whether the Big 12 sends a team into the BCS playoff. And for the record, Cowboys QB Mason Rudolph is currently projected to be the fourth passer selected in the 2018 draft.
6. Western Michigan, (12-0)
Western Michigan keeps winning, and if they can take the MAC Championship Game, they'll be playing on New Year's Day. To us, RB Jarvion Franklin deserves the big stage. He's currently just the 32nd-ranked RB among NFL scouts, but that is likely to change if the Broncos continue to do well.
7. Washington, (11-1)
Are we being hard on the Huskies? Probably. But we promise, if they win the Pac-12 title, we'll put them in the top four, even if the BCS Selection Committee doesn't. QB Jake Browning (21/29, 292 yards, three TDs) made a statement in UW's statement win in the Apple Cup over Washington State.
8. Michigan, (10-2)
Well, QB Wilton Speight did play for the Wolverines against Ohio State--and it wasn't enough. A costly INT likely moved the mojo in The Game to the Ohio State sideline. Jabrill Peppers was solid on D, largely shutting out Curtis Samuel (except on the final play in OT), but he was a non-factor on special teams.
9. Penn State, (10-2)
The Nittany Lions are playing for the Big Ten championship, which would be surprising enough, except some people were also mentioning them as a BCS playoff team. Wishful thinking, we're afraid. Wideout Chris Godwin is projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft, but we like his track record in big games.
10. Colorado, (10-2)
We've warmed up to the Buffs, even though Pac-12 excess will likely be rooting for a Washington demolition of CU in the conference title game Friday night, given that the Huskies are the ones with legit BCS aspirations. Wide receiver Devin Ross, with 65 catches, is an NFL prospect.