Members of the College Football Playoff selection committee will tell you repeatedly they rank teams — not conferences. If the 13-member group were to meet today, though, it would be clear the SEC is leading the playoff race.
Remember, the committee doesn't rank teams the old-fashioned way — moving them up a spot or two with a win, down a spot or two with a loss.
It's a far more detailed conversation and evaluation, which is why Tennessee's win at Oklahoma on Saturday could catapult the Volunteers more seriously into the playoff conversation than the latest Associated Press poll might indicate.
Just how high can they climb? There would be selection committee members who would reward Tennessee for a better combination of résumé and eye test than Ohio State.