Big 12 playoff tracker: League contenders face long odds

Ahead of the highest-positioned Big 12 team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday night, sit five teams from the SEC, five from the Big Ten, two from the ACC and unbeaten Washington from the Pac-12. Only twice in the two-year history of the playoff rankings has a Power 5 league been shut out of the top 10; never -- until Tuesday -- had a Power 5 league failed to land a team in the top 11.

Oklahoma

Record: 6-2 (5-0 Big 12)

Rank: 14

Next big obstacle: No. 17 Baylor, Nov. 12

Reason for optimism: The Sooners ranked 15th last year in the initial playoff poll and rocketed to No. 4, earning a spot in the semifinals after four victories to finish. Two years ago, eventual…