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SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' college football reporter Paul Myerberg breaks down the hottest headlines from Week 13. USA TODAY Sports

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Just when the race for the College Football Playoff seemed on a smooth path, a bump in road appeared. Make that two bumps.

Losses by the top two teams have caused the deck to be reshuffled. Wisconsin and Auburn move into the field. Out are Miami (Fla.) and Alabama.

A victory by the Badgers against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game and an Oklahoma defeat of TCU in the Big 12 championship would make things pretty simple for the committee. Those two would join the winners of the SEC and ACC title games, projected to be Auburn and Clemson.

RE-RANK: Clemson takes over top spot in reshuffled top five

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NO COMMENT: Florida State's Jimbo Fisher won't address Texas A&M rumors

However, if Wisconsin or Oklahoma lose, it opens the door for some heated debate from the remaining candidates. Would two-loss Ohio State get in ahead of one-loss Alabama, which didn't win its division? What about the Buckeyes being ahead of the Sooners, who would then have two losses but won handily in Columbus?

Should chaos rule, we will know those answers when the field is revealed on Sunday.

Reminder: Some conferences may not fulfill their bowl allotment. Asterisks denote a replacement pick. Teams in bold have accepted berths.

 

IMAGES FROM WEEK 13 IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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