Projecting the College Football Playoff top 12 after Week 12 - ESPN

The College Football Playoff selection committee's third ranking is guaranteed to look different Tuesday night after Oklahoma's win at Alabama, but how different depends on… Notre Dame.

The biggest question facing the group this week is how the two-loss teams will stack up, and assuming the committee rewards Oklahoma's head-to-head win against the Tide, the duo will likely be a package deal — either above Notre Dame, or below. Have the Irish done enough to remain the committee's top two-loss team? Or will the Sooners' statement win push Notre Dame down, even after the Irish won at Pitt?

Here's a prediction of what the selection committee will do when it reveals its third of six rankings Tuesday night (8:30 ET, ESPN).

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Why they could be here: The Buckeyes have already won over the room, and nothing happened Saturday in a lopsided win against UCLA that would alter that perception. Former CFP selection committee chair Mack Rhoades said Tuesday that there has been a «really clear consensus in the room» that Ohio State is the No. 1 team in the country. «Really good defensively, particularly up front,» Rhoades said. «Their offensive line play is outstanding. They have the great playmakers in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. The quarterback [Julian] Sayin right now leads the country in passing efficiency and completion percentage.» Ohio State entered Saturday ranked in the top three in offensive and defensive efficiencies.

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Why they could be lower: It would be hard for the committee to justify dropping the Buckeyes after Ohio State and Indiana overwhelmed similar unranked opponents. One of