Bubble Watch: What we've learned through Week 2

"The College Football Playoff selection committee members will tell you they don't rank conferences -- they rank teams -- but the Big Ten and SEC are leading the way in nonconference wins that will impact the committee's rankings through Selection Day. According to ESPN Research, the SEC enters Week 3 with a 27-3 nonconference record (8-2 against Power 4 opponents), while the Big Ten is 31-5 (5-3 against Power 4 opponents)."

"Teams with Would be in status are featured in this week's top 12 projection, a snapshot of what the selection committee's ranking would look like if it were released today. A team with Work to do is passing the eye test (for the most part) and has a chance at winning its conference, which means a guaranteed spot in the playoff. And a team that Would be out is playing in the shadows of the playoff -- for now."

"The 13-member selection committee doesn't always agree with the Allstate Playoff Predictor, so the following categories are based on historical knowledge of the group's tendencies plus what each team has done to date. Mississippi State, for example, just earned a big nonconference win against Arizona State, so while the Bulldogs probably aren't ready for the CFP yet, they're still listed under Work to do to account for the upward trajectory that win provides early."

ESPN Research shows the SEC is 27-3 nonconference (8-2 vs Power 4) and the Big Ten is 31-5 (5-3 vs Power 4) entering Week 3. The Big 12 is 24-8 (5-6 vs Power 4) and the ACC is 22-10 (3-9 vs Power 4). Nonconference results are shaping a conference-by-conference playoff breakdown and affecting projected spots in a 12-team field. Teams are tiered as Would be in, Work to do, or Would be out based on committee tendencies and current resumes. Rankings and statuses will change week to week as teams build or lose momentum.

Read at ESPN.com