The College Football Playoff committee will wrestle with one question for the next three weeks.

Would you go with 4-4 or 5-3?

We’re not talking about defensive formation. That’s the potential spread between the number of Big Ten and SEC teams. After the third set of seedings, that number remains at four teams for the Power 2 among the Power 4 conferences.

The SEC will look to lock in a fifth team. The Big Ten will field its fourth defending team. This is the argument that will continue unless Notre Dame does a favor and loses one of its last two games against Army or USC.

MORE: ACC tiebreakers updated | 12 big tiebreakers | SEC tiebreaker

If Ohio State beats Indiana on Saturday, then this discussion will revolve around the Hoosiers and the idea of ​​”brand bias” versus “brand new” bias.

Is there brand bias? Yes, but it’s not always because of the helmet. Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon and even Ole Miss made four or more appearances on New Year’s Day. No matter what anyone says, this proven track record is important when evaluating the quality of play of teams. The Bulldogs have two losses, but they also played five teams ranked in the top 25.

Is there a brand new prejudice? Of course there is. Indiana is new. First-year coach Curt Cignetti is a bidding machine. He’s fun. Indiana has a chance to knock off a Big Ten team with a victory over the Buckeyes, and college football fans are loving a shiny new bandwagon. The No. 1 song Indiana last beat Ohio State was Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The Hoosiers are pretty bright.

It will be interesting how these perceptions mesh with the committee. From where? It’s 2024 and SEC and Big Ten fans will be worried. They won’t be happy unless they find the right side of the 4-4 versus 5-3 debate. Do you think Tennessee or Ole Miss fans would willingly accept being left out of the CFP because of the Indiana team’s only loss?

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the College Football Playoff bubble, which includes the final two teams and four teams planning to advance to the 12-team field.

CFP Standings bubble teams in final two of Week 13

7 Alabama (8-2)

The Crimson Tide got the win against Georgia but also lost to Tennessee off the field. Alabama still has the best overall win percentage with conference opponents among the two losing teams in the standings, and they are in good shape with wins over Oklahoma and Auburn.

No. 10 Georgia (8-2)

The Bulldogs are back but need help if they want to get more than a first-round playoff berth. Turnovers are a given with the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have won by an average of 16 points per game in four games against FBS teams with fewer than two turnovers. They are ahead 3-2 in the other five matches.

No. 9 Ole Miss (8-2)

The Rebels are still in the bubble and will be a target for Tennessee fans as well. Ole Miss has a victory over Georgia, but they also have a loss against Kentucky, which is hard to tell is the Wildcats’ only victory in SEC play.

Week 13 bubble teams in the College Football Playoff

No. 13 SMU (9-1)

The Mustangs control their own destiny as the only team with no losses in ACC conference play, but they have been among the first teams to take the field the past three weeks. The Mustangs are sixth in the FBS offensively (39.9 ppg) and play their final road game at Virginia in Week 13. They continue to be a win-or-other team on the bubble.

No. 11 Tennessee (8-2)

Despite a resume that includes a head-to-head victory over Alabama, the Vols appear to be out for now. Tennessee is the only SEC playoff contender to play the Crimson Tide and Georgia, but that doesn’t resonate with the committee as much as it should.

No. 15 Texas A&M (8-2)

The Aggies control their own destiny in reaching the SEC championship game but sit sixth among SEC teams in the standings. The Aggies have a road test at Auburn before the revival of their in-state rivalry with Texas. There is no margin for error.

No. 16 Colorado (8-2)

The Buffaloes continue to move up the standings and control their own destiny in the Big 12 title race with games against Kansas and Oklahoma State on the schedule. Colorado won its last four games by 19.3 points per game. This could be a dangerous team with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, who could both be in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

CFP Rankings and AP Top 25

Here’s a look at how the initial College Football Playoff rankings compare to the AP Top 25 rankings heading into Week 13 of the college football season: