Three-Point Stance: Ranking commits, coaching upheaval, playoff scenarios

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here ranking recent commitments, a look at five head coaches who could set the college football world on fire if they left their current programs and some confusing playoff scenarios.

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It’s that time again, time to rate the recent commitments by national importance. Last time I left off with Coynis Miller for Auburn and the Tigers make this list as well. Here they are (2018 and 2019 commitments only) with six of the top eight headed to the SEC.

• RB James Cook, Georgia – The only recent five-star commitment and a great addition along with Zamir White, giving Georgia yet another potential 1-2 punch at running back. The former ‘Noles commitment and younger brother of Dalvin Cook could be special.

• OT Richard Gouraige, Florida – A huge get for Florida, especially with all the coaching turmoil. The offensive line needs help and he has a great frame to grow on.

• OL Emil Ekiyor, Alabama – A massive, road grading flip from Michigan is a big deal even for Alabama. Watch this kid become a star.

• CB Jalen Perry, Georgia (2019) – A lockdown from the class of 2019, this kid has a ton of potential and could be a great one in a few years.

• DE George Karlaftis, Purdue – The biggest commitment to Purdue football in, well, forever this kid will be a lynchpin for that defensive line.

• QB Artur Sitkowski, Rutgers – His senior season has been a rough one, but the skills are there and a flip from Miami is a big deal.

• S Brendon Harris, Vanderbilt -- Leaping on the talented safety after the Vols lost him makes this an even bigger deal than usual.

• DE Bobby Brown, Texas A&M – The Aggies keep recruiting well despite the coaching rumors and Brown is an elite edge rusher who can play the run as well.

• DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma – Perkins may not be ranked as high as some others behind him, but he plays a premium position, could move inside and is a great out-of-state grab.

• DT Thomas Booker, Stanford – As usual, Stanford can recruit across the country and land quality players and Booker plays a hard-to-recruit position.

• CB Christian Tutt, Auburn – An elite defensive back for an elite defense, I like Tutt’s size and strength and ability to play press.

• TE Mustapha Muhammad, Michigan – I’m not as high on him as others, but he has athleticism and once he adds more quickness he could be a flex option for Michigan.

• TE TJ Banks, West Virginia – A good fit for the West Virginia offense as a guy who can stretch the field a bit and has great size.

• RB Devon Lawrence, North Carolina – The younger brother of Dexter Lawrence, he’s an important in-state keep for a struggling UNC program.

• ATH James Graham, Virginia Tech – Versatility and athleticism are key for any program and Virginia Tech does better than most with kids with Graham’s skill set.

Which coaches linked to job opening rumors would cause the biggest national ripple if they left their current programs? To me, the order is easy.

• Jimbo Fisher, Florida State – The rumors, all likely false, are there when it comes to Jimbo leaving for Texas A&M, just as they were there for the LSU job. By all accounts, he won’t be going anywhere, but he will have to fire some staff and if he refuses, he would have his pick of open jobs. The FSU job coming open would shake the college football landscape in a busy season for coaching hires.

• James Franklin, Penn State – He was mentioned for A&M earlier and now you hear people saying Tennessee should go after him after his success at Vandy. He will likely stay put and land another big raise, but imagine if he left and PSU came open?

• Dan Mullen, Mississippi State – This is the most likely on the list to happen and the job in Starkville isn’t a huge one, but it could be one that is filled by a rising star (Brent Venables, Mike Norvell, others?) if Mullen does leave.

• Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech – Fuente has been mentioned as a potential target for the Tennessee job and has done such a good job at Virginia Tech that his name will continue to surface in the next few years as big jobs open. Would he chase the money or is he happy with the Hokies?

• Willie Taggart, Oregon – Would he leave to come back to the Southeast if Florida offered or if the FSU job came open? He’s been mentioned for the Tennessee job a bit as well and his loss to Oregon would be huge, but would open things up for a guy named Chip Kelly to make a return to the Pacific Northwest.

Finally, let’s pretend you’re the college football playoff committee and the following things happen, what would you do? This could make you dizzy.

• Scenario No. 1 — Alabama loses to Auburn, Auburn loses to Georgia and Ohio State beats Wisconsin. Clemson beats Miami and Oklahoma wins out. Alabama is 11-1, Georgia 12-1, Ohio State 11-2, Wisconsin 12-1, Clemson 12-1, Miami, 12-1, Oklahoma 12-1. Who are your top four?

• Scenario No. 2 — Clemson loses to South Carolina but beats Miami and Alabama runs the table. Do both Miami and Clemson get in from the ACC, Clemson as a two-loss champ, ahead of either the Big Ten or Big 12 champ?

• Scenario No. 3 — Wisconsin runs the table but Auburn beats Alabama and Georgia and wins the SEC. Assuming the ACC gets one spot, OU gets another and Auburn a third, does Alabama with one loss fall behind Wisconsin or do the Badgers get screwed?

• Scenario No. 4 — Ohio State wins out beating ranked Michigan and Wisconsin and Oklahoma loses a game. Does Ohio State get in with two losses, one of them to Oklahoma, over the Sooners with two losses?

• Scenario No. 5 — Alabama loses to Auburn, Auburn loses to Georgia, and Miami, Oklahoma and Wisconsin win out. The records: Alabama 11-1, Georgia 12-1, Miami 13-0, Oklahoma 12-1, Wisconsin 13-0. Is Alabama out?