Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) carries the ball against Tennessee during their game at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens II (4) celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the fourth quarter against Florida at Kyle Field.

The debate between Indiana and Texas A&M will take center stage in the second College Football Playoff rankings, potentially reaffirming the selection committee’s admiration for the SEC and underscoring the possibility the league places five or even six teams in this year’s tournament.

The Hoosiers remained in front of the Aggies in the US LBM Coaches Poll after pulling out a narrow win against Penn State. A&M emptied another SEC stadium ahead of schedule during a 38-17 win against Missouri.

A swap in this week’s rankings would be almost entirely symbolic. Indiana is still as close to a playoff lock as any team in the Power Four and could be named the top seed in the 12-team bracket by beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.

But the message sent by the committee would be impossible to ignore. While both leagues are assured of at least three playoff teams, moving A&M ahead of Indiana strongly insinuates a decided SEC edge over the Big Ten when comparing at-large contenders with identical or similar records.

Look for the Hoosiers to fend off the Aggies in this week’s poll, though the gap will tighten. There will be no Group of Five team in the rankings for the second week in a row after Memphis lost to Tulane. Here’s how the top 12 will look on Tuesday night:

1. Ohio State (9-0)

Best win: vs. Texas (14-7), Aug. 30.

Loss: None.

Up next: vs. UCLA, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: at Michigan, Nov. 29.

Playoff chances: One win away. The Buckeyes would be an at-large lock with a win on Saturday against UCLA.

2. Indiana (10-0)

Best win: at Oregon (30-20), Oct. 11.

Loss: None.

Up next: vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Wisconsin.

Playoff chances: Locked in. The comeback against Penn State puts the Hoosiers into the playoff for the second year in a row. Next, Indiana takes aim at the program’s first Big Ten crown since 1967.

3. Texas A&M (9-0)

Best win: at Notre Dame (41-40), Sept. 13.

Loss: None.

Up next: vs. South Carolina, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: at Texas, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: Nearly secured. Losses to South Carolina and Texas could drop A&M to fifth in the SEC pecking order, behind Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and the Longhorns but ahead of Vanderbilt. While the league should send five teams to the playoff, the Aggies could get squeezed out of the tournament should the Big Ten put together a strong close to November.

4. Alabama (8-1)

Best win: at Georgia (24-21), Sept. 27.

Loss: at Florida State (31-17), Aug. 30.

Up next: vs. Oklahoma, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Oklahoma.

Playoff chances: Looking great. An eight-game winning streak will be put to the test by Oklahoma’s defense, which ranks first in the SEC by a wide margin in yards allowed per play. But the Tide are in great shape given the tiebreaker over Georgia and games against Eastern Illinois and Auburn to end the year.

5. Georgia (8-1)

Best win: vs. Mississippi (43-35), Oct. 18.

Loss: vs. Alabama (24-21), Sept. 27.

Up next: vs. Texas, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Texas.

Playoff chances: Looking really good. Georgia would earn an at-large berth by splitting games against the Longhorns and Georgia Tech to end the year.

6. Mississippi (9-1)

Best win: at Oklahoma (34-26), Oct. 25.

Loss: at Georgia (43-35), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. Florida, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: at Mississippi State, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: A lock, basically. The Rebels could slip up against Florida or Mississippi State. Probably not, though. Look for a blowout against Florida and plenty of wackiness in the Egg Bowl.

7. Texas Tech (9-1)

Best win: vs. Brigham Young (29-7), Nov. 8.

Loss: at Arizona State (26-22), Oct. 18.

Up next: vs. Central Florida, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: at West Virginia, Nov. 29.

Playoff chances: Better than ever. An impressive win against Brigham Young will move up Tech one spot in this week’s rankings. At this point, it would be surprising to see anyone but the Red Raiders as Big 12 champions.

8. Oregon (8-1)

Best win: at Iowa (18-16), Nov. 8.

Loss: vs. Indiana (30-20), Oct. 11.

Up next: vs. Minnesota, Nov. 14.

Biggest game remaining: vs. Southern California, Nov. 22.

Playoff chances: Vastly improved. Oregon handed the committee a ranked win on the road and will follow Tech in climbing one spot in the rankings. Look for the Ducks to take care of Minnesota before another must-have game against USC.

9. Notre Dame (7-2)

Best win: vs. Southern California (34-24), Oct. 18.

Losses: at Miami (27-24), Aug. 31; vs. Texas A&M (41-40), Sept. 13.

Up next: at Pittsburgh, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Pittsburgh.

Playoff chances: Win and in. That’s been the theme for Notre Dame since dropping two in a row out of the gate. The Panthers will provide a serious test, but it’s all downhill from there with Syracuse and Stanford to end the regular season.

10. Texas (7-2)

Best win: vs. Vanderbilt (34-31), Nov. 1.

Losses: at Ohio State (14-7), Aug. 30; at Florida (29-21), Oct. 4.

Up next: at Georgia, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: vs. Texas A&M, Nov. 28.

Playoff chances: Getting stronger. Texas is the team most likely to grab the last at-large berth with three losses, since two of those losses – to Ohio State and one of Georgia or A&M – would come against top-five competition. A win against the Bulldogs would make the Longhorns the top-ranked two-loss team in next week’s rankings and give them the wiggle room to drop their rivalry game with the Aggies and still make the field.

11. Oklahoma (7-2)

Best win: at Tennessee (33-27), Nov. 1.

Losses: vs. Texas (23-6), Oct. 11; vs. Mississippi (34-26), Oct. 25.

Up next: at Alabama, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: Alabama.

Playoff chances: Not great. That outlook would change dramatically with a win against the Crimson Tide, which could potentially overcome the Longhorns’ head-to-head edge. But a third loss would essentially eliminate the Sooners from contention because the committee wouldn't move them ahead of Texas if both have the same record.

12. Brigham Young (8-1)

Best win: vs. Utah (24-21), Oct. 18.

Loss: at Texas Tech (29-7), Nov. 8.

Up next: vs. TCU, Nov. 15.

Biggest game remaining: at Cincinnati, Nov. 22.

Playoff chances: Close to zero. Realistically, the Cougars’ only chance is via the Big 12 championship; even reaching the championship game and losing a second time to the Red Raiders would leave BYU shy of the bracket. Keep in mind that two playoff spots are reserved for the ACC champion and the Group of Five representative, both of which will be behind the Cougars in this week’s ranking.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College Football Playoff rankings projection focuses on Indiana or Texas A&M at No. 2

Reporting by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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