College Football Playoff rankings winners and losers: Six teams still in contention

With just the conference championship games left, it seems like we are realistically down to six teams that can make the College Football Playoff with two others way outside the cut line that would only be considered if there is a total meltdown of historic proportions. 

We’re at the point where only Georgia is safely in, with two teams that control their destiny in Alabama and Michigan. The third tier of teams includes Oklahoma State and Cincinnati, which must win their conference championship games and root for Georgia to beat Alabama. That’s by far the most likely composition of the four-team playoff. 

But what happens if Iowa beats Michigan, Houston beats Cincinnati and Baylor beats Oklahoma State? In that case, one of those open spots would likely go to Notre Dame, whose work is already done at 11-1. That would leave the committee to choose between several two-loss teams for the final two spots. Could Ohio State sneak back in, or would Michigan get in anyway because of the head-to-head victory last week? Would Baylor jump back up into the mix? Would defending champion Alabama be the default team for the final spot?