As everyone knows this is the first season of the College Football Playoff. Four teams will make it and everyone else will have some nice parting gifts. Take note that these rankings aren’t the top four teams in the country, they’re the four teams with the best chance to make the playoff.

#1 Florida State Seminoles

Are the ‘Noles really the best team in America? They haven’t played like it but they are the defending champs and they keep winning football games. They’re probably the most talented team in America even though they haven’t quite showed it yet. Florida State gets to feast on an ACC schedule and their toughest remaining game will be a home date against scrappy Notre Dame, which they’ll be favored in. They’re not great, but they’re the most likely team to win out.

#2 Auburn Tigers

In a season with some serious parity top through bottom, Auburn seems to be finding their stride on offense. It’s unlikely that the Tigers will run the table in the SEC, but will anybody? We know the magical Gus Malzahn puts his best game plans forward in the biggest games and Auburn won’t cower from the moment. For the SEC, it’s going to be when you get your inevitable loss and how highly you’re ranked. This fact puts both Auburn and Alabama in great shape; the winner of the Iron Bowl should find their way in.

#3 Oklahoma Sooners

Before craziness ensues, we are well aware that Oklahoma lost on Saturday. Still, the Sooners get Baylor at home and unless you believe the Bears will win that game or that TCU will beat Baylor on the road and Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks, you have to like Oklahoma. The Sooners are the most talented team in the Big 12 and the conference has enough of a reputation that a one-loss champion will make it in the “Final Four.”

#4 Michigan State Spartans

Is Michigan State one of the four best teams in the country? Probably not, but they have a favorable schedule going forward and their only loss is a quality loss at Oregon. With remaining games against Ohio State and at Penn State, there’s just enough talent there to impress the committee assuming they win out.

If you’re wondering why there’s only one SEC team and no Pac-12 teams on the list, it’s because those conferences are so tough and deep that they’re going to beat each other up. It’s unlikely that anyone from the Pac-12 runs the table the rest of the way and it’s highly unlikely that more than one team from the SEC West finishes with one loss or fewer.