Boo Corrigan addresses impact of close games played by top teams in Week 12

The latest College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Tuesday night on ESPN, followed by an interview with CFP Selection Committee chairman Boo Corrigan, who also serves as athletic director at NC State. One of the most important discussions of the night applied to just about every team near the top, as many struggled through Week 12 and had to scrape out wins to remain in contention.

From Georgia to Ohio State, Michigan and TCU, the entire top four did not play up to their undefeated label, but retained the title nonetheless. USC won by three, while Tennessee lost in a major upset and plummeted out of the picture, begging the question how important it will be to win, and win pretty.

“A lot of times, teams are playing their sixth or seventh consecutive game as we’re looking at it,” said Corrigan. “But each of the four teams found a way to win. Georgia over Kentucky. The Ohio State-Maryland game was close, they get the pick six right there at the end. Michigan and Blake Corum getting hurt right before halftime – did play a play in the second half so that factors in. And then TCU with the excitement of a last-second field goal.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

While Corrigan seems understanding of the long season and difficulty of keeping energy up from week to week, he also mentioned earlier in the interview that Michigan’s better margin of victory was part of the reason for leaving them above TCU despite a weak non-conference resume.

More from Boo Corrigan

As the season nears a conclusion, many wondered how the 13-member panel views the four undefeated teams, with Georgia and Ohio State seeming to separate themselves from Michigan and TCU in the eyes of the public.

While the order remained the same as Week 12, Rece Davis asked Boo Corrigan how the committee sees the differences between Michigan and TCU, and just how large the gap between the two is.

“We go through the same thing every week and start off with that No. 1 through No. 4, and make sure that all the teams we’re looking at are up on the board,” said Corrigan. “We’re comparing everything, we’re looking at it. TCU has done a really good job in finding ways to win games – whether they’re trailing going into the fourth quarter – they’ve found a way to win games. The excitement of last weekend, the way they run onto the field – I think you all said ‘bazooka’ or something as they run onto the field to kick that game-winning field goal.

“Michigan, again, that non-conference schedule has been an issue. But they continue to find ways to win games and win by bigger margins.”