Oklahoma finally gets rightful spot in CFP rankings

The Oklahoma Sooners have been worthy this whole time, but finally, the committee realized.

Last week, it was clear the CFP committee wanted the Sooners to notch one more statement win to believe they were deserving of a ranking high enough to have OU inside the 12-team playoff field. The Sooners then went to Tuscaloosa and upset then-No. 4 Alabama 23-21 on Saturday for their second top-15 road upset in a row, and the committee couldn't deny the Sooners any longer.

Sooners finally on the inside of College Football Playoff

The Sooners came in at No. 8 in the third CFP rankings of the season on Tuesday evening. It was a jump of three spots after being 11th last week and 12th in the initial rankings. Although the Sooners have been inside the top 12 in every set of rankings this season, they were still on the outside looking in after getting replaced by one of two conference champions from outside of the top 12 that still gets a spot in the 12-team field.

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Ole Miss
7. Oregon
8. Oklahoma
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. Utah

The key difference between this week and the last two was the committee finally bumped the Sooners above No. 9 Notre Dame, which had been the highest-ranked two-loss team despite having a much weaker schedule than OU. The committee could no longer favor the Fighting Irish after OU tallied another ranked win on the road.

Texas' blowout loss to Georgia and drop of seven spots to No. 17 also paved the way for the Sooners' rise, plus OU jumping No. 10 Bama thanks to the head-to-head win. The Sooners are now the highest-ranked two-loss team at 8-2.

The three-spot leap was enough to put the Sooners comfortably in the CFP field. Based on these rankings, OU would get a first-round game at home against No. 9 Notre Dame. A win would send the Sooners to face No. 1 Ohio State in the quarterfinals

With two home games left against No. 22 Missouri and LSU, the Sooners will not only secure a playoff spot if they win out, but these latest rankings also confirm OU would host a playoff game at 10-2.