Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea made a compelling case for his team to be included in the College Football Playoff.

The Group of Five is no cakewalk either. Tulane and Navy can reach the American title game by winning out but North Texas can get in if it wins and Navy loses to either Memphis or Army. Tulane was the only Group of Five team in the committee's last rankings, so James Madison needs the Green Wave to lose in order to have a shot at the CFP.

AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning found a hole, found space, found the end zone. And with the dagger touchdown, Texas found itself back in the College Football Playoff conversation, even if everyone outside the southeastern United States doesn’t want to hear it.

Considering Auburn's season and recent history in the Iron Bowl, it's hardly a surprise to see the College GameDay crew and guest picker Aidan Hutchinson uninamous in picking the Crimson Tide to avoid an upset. Desmond Howard and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban each were quick to pick the Crimson Tide.

Here's what you need to know about where Big Ten programs stand in college football recruiting rankings going into the early signing period.