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Some Utah and Pac-12 fans were a spiraled combination of worried and bothered when the initial college football playoff rankings were released Tuesday and the top two league teams were Stanford at No. 11 and the Utes at 12. That seems like a lot of ground to cover over the next month in the scramble for postseason opportunity — if either one of those teams is the eventual Pac-12 champion.

Don't freak out.

OK, freak out a little.

Four one-loss teams were ranked above the Utes.

No matter how sanitized and clinical and systematic and thorough and scientific and information-based and fair the selection committee claims itself to be, even wants to be, it and its choices for the final four playoff spots, at some point, in some way, will come down to the gut level. And to date, the committee views the Pac-12 like an unlicensed street vendor's leftover fly-covered, jalapeno-laced bean burrito.

The committee isn't much impressed, and maybe is even a little frightened.

The last thing those people want to do is introduce a team that will embarrass them, that will make them look bad by not being as competitive as it should be. CYA, baby: Cover Your Assumptions.

Undefeated Clemson was No. 1, followed by undefeated LSU, followed by undefeated Ohio State. But, even at this early juncture, being undefeated — as neither Stanford, nor Utah is — isn't a requirement. Alabama came in at No. 4 with the same 7-1 record as the Pac-12ers.

Actually, that's good news. The committee seems to be saying that the record alone, no matter how glossy, isn't enough. Strength of schedule is a big deal. That's why 7-0 Baylor was docked, coming in at No. 6. It's nonconference schedule looks like something Bryant Gumbel would have Bo Diddley'ed. We're all past the days of claiming teams that play a handful of good teams scattered here and there through an otherwise dog schedule deserve prime consideration, right? That's such Mountain West thinking.

On the other hand, the committee slotting Alabama at No. 4 and 7-1 Florida at No. 10, when the Tide's only loss came at home against No. 18 Ole Miss while the Gators' only loss came on the road against No. 2 LSU, is curious. More info is coming, though, when 'Bama and LSU play on Saturday.

Committee chair Jeff Long said wins against teams with winning records gave Alabama (with three such victories) the edge over Florida (with two), but, if that's so important, why are the Utes at No. 12? Utah has five wins against teams with better-than-.500 records. Others call that definition of a quality team limited, citing other factors. Whatever, everybody's guessing here.

Speaking of the little guy, what about unbeaten Memphis, ranked one slot behind Utah? The Tigers beat Ole Miss, and there's a chance, albeit a fat one, that the Rebels could win the SEC. And if Memphis stays undefeated, what happens then? Here's what happens: The Tigers will argue they deserve in because they beat the SEC champs, head to head.

A huge game for Stanford and Utah will be the Cardinal's end-of-November date with No. 5 Notre Dame. If Stanford wins out, and heads into the Pac-12 championship game against Utah, if the Utes win out, that would bolster the resume of whichever of those teams becomes the Pac-12 winner.

At this juncture, the Pac-12 needs a boost. It's certainly no given that the league's champ will make the playoff final four.

An interesting tidbit to sling around: If a one-loss Utah team somehow finds a way to make it to the league title game — and wins — how would the committee treat the Utes, who, bless their hearts, aren't exactly a legacy football program nationally? Would Utah be hurt by the fact that it is … Utah?

A couple more things to remember: In last year's first playoff ranking, three of the top four teams — Mississippi State, Mississippi and Auburn — didn't make the playoff field. Ohio State, the eventual champion, was slotted 16th in that initial ranking, one spot ahead of the Utes.

What does any of this mean?

Not a whole lot.

It means that college football put on a spectacle this week, a show, a publicity hullabaloo that stirs everyone looking for bits and pieces, for hints and clues, as to how the playoff will shape up. And many of us fall for it. It's not a complete ruse. There are some legitimate scraps in the heap. But many of the ranked teams will play one another in the days ahead, some records will be diminished, some enhanced. The thing will evolve.

But if Utah continues to win, a big if, but … if the Utes finish the regular season at 11-1 and beat the North winner at Levi's Stadium, and they are shunned by the committee, shut out of that final four? Oh, man … we all know how that's going to play here. They might as well move the consolation Rose Bowl to Vegas.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on 97.5 FM and 1280 AM The Zone. Twitter: @GordonMonson.