Even after seven weeks of the college football season has come and gone, the fight to be a top-four team and clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff is still too close to call. But at the halfway mark of the season, each member of the alligatorSports football group — sports editor Graham Hall, assistant sports editor Luis Torres, staff writer Graham Hack and managing/online editor Jordan McPherson — has his own thought of who will be playing for the national title come January. If the season were to end today, here is who each writer would have in their Final Four:
Hall: Baylor Bears, LSU Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Clemson Tigers
Led by junior quarterback Seth Russell, who has thrown for 1,907 yards and an NCAA-leading 27 touchdowns in just six games, Baylor has blown its opponents out of the water.
LSU, led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Leonard Fournette, seems like the clear-cut favorite to win the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers should run the table the rest of the way despite road contests against a hungry Alabama team and Ole Miss.
Michigan State hasn’t looked impressive in recent weeks — close contests against a weak Purdue team and a miraculous victory over Michigan in The Big House haven’t done the Spartans any favors in the polls — but the team is undefeated and has just one opponent remaining that could ruin the team’s playoff hopes: Ohio State.
The Clemson Tigers have impressive wins over Notre Dame and I fully expect coach Dabo Swinney’s team to take care of business against Florida State in three weeks.
Torres: Ohio State Buckeyes, Baylor Bears, Utah Utes, Clemson Tigers
Ohio State hasn’t blown its opponents out of the water this season like everyone expected, but the Buckeyes are still the best team in the country. While Urban Meyer continues to rotate Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett as quarterback, Ohio State is still ranked a respectable 30th in total offense this season.
Baylor has the most explosive offense in the country and quarterback Combine Russell with a solid ground game and the Bears should be able to reach the Final Four.
Utah may be a surprise to some, but while the Utes don’t have the most impressive numbers in the country — they rank 70th in total offense and 50th in total defense — they get the job done.
And finally there’s Clemson. The Tigers have an impressive win on their resume when they beat then-No. 6 Notre Dame 24-22 at home. The Tigers are stout defensively as they are tied for 12th in the nation in passing defense.
Hack: Ohio State Buckeyes, Baylor Bears, Alabama Crimson Tide, Stanford Cardinal
The Buckeyes haven’t been the most impressive team this season, but how can you blame them? If it’s tough for you and I to get excited for games against Central Michigan and Indiana, it’s tough for the players, too.
Ohio State still has the most talent in the nation, though, and once Urban Meyer stops messing around and makes J.T. Barrett his permanent starting quarterback, this team will be ready to roll for its big games at the end of the year.
Baylor’s offense, simply put, is unstoppable. The Bears are averaging 63.8 points per game — more than 13 points a game more than the next closest team — and if the defense can get a stop or two, it’s game over for the opposition.
In terms of resume, Alabama trails LSU. But the Crimson Tide would beat the Tigers on a neutral field right now, and unluckily for LSU, the two teams will play in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7.
Stanford’s title chances took a hit with an opening weekend loss to Northwestern on Sept. 5, but since then, the team has rolled off five-consecutive wins and looks to have its swagger back.
The Cardinal will be favored in every game left on its schedule until a final home matchup against Notre Dame.
McPherson: Baylor Bears, LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Clemson Tigers
Baylor is the best team in the country right now. Even with a middle-of-the-road defense, the Bears’ offense that’s averaging a ridiculous 719.7 yards per game and 8.94 yards per play while scoring at least 52 points will carry them to victory every time.
LSU has the best offensive player in the country in Heisman Trophy frontrunner Leonard Fournette and a defense that can compete with any team in the nation.
If Brandon Harris can continue the success he had over the last two weeks (430 passing yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions), the Tigers’ offense will be even scarier than it already is.
OSU’s biggest tests will come in the final two weeks of the season against Michigan and Michigan State, but the Buckeyes have done enough for me early in the season to justify keeping them in the top four.
I’ve liked what Clemson has done this season. A quality win over then-No. 6 Notre Dame, a top-10 defense and commendable work from both quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman give the Tigers the push they need.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett drops back to pass against Penn State during the second half of the Buckeyes' 38-10 win on Oct. 17, 2015, at Ohio Stadium.
