Nov 04, 2015 12:26 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Ohio State Buckeyes know better than anyone that the only College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking that matters is the last one.

But favorites are favorites for a reason and the CFP's first ranking of the season revealed just which teams those are. While Clemson (1), LSU (2), Ohio State (3), and Alabama (4) top the rankings for now, they may not be considered the favorites for much longer.

First, LSU and Alabama are scheduled to play one another this weekend and a second loss for the Tide may be too much to overcome, especially if LSU goes on to win the SEC West. LSU may be better equipped to survive a loss, but their remaining schedule beyond Saturday is a bit tougher than Alabama's.

Additionally, the Big 12 has two juggernauts right on the outside of the CFP Top Four just waiting for an opening. Baylor (6) and TCU (8) may have had two of the softest schedules to this point, but it is getting tougher at precisely the right time.

Similarly, the Big Ten has multiple undefeated teams and a conference champion with no losses - or even one loss - would be hard to deny a Top Four spot.

Both are scheduled to play Oklahoma (15) and Oklahoma State (14) before playing each other on Nov. 27. Oklahoma State is undefeated as well and beating both Baylor and TCU would certainly vault them into the CFP conversation. What seems completely evident is that an undefeated Big 12 Champion can make a convincing case for the CFP Top Four.

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