Tuesday saw a seismic day in the U.S. with votes dictating topics of conversation for millions across the United States and more globally. Yes, the first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings of the season were released on Tuesday. There were no real surprises in comparison to the AP Top 25 rankings we have been following since Week 1 of this unpredictable season of college football to date. The initial rankings also gave some insight into the selection committee’s current perspectives and how they might weigh up the changes in fortunes of the teams that will be battling for the top 12 places, and a chance to compete for the national championship.
The New 12-team College Football Playoff Format
Previously reserved for the top four ranked teams, the College Football Playoff has frequently faced criticism for its perceived voting bias and exclusivity, notably leaving out an unbeaten Florida State that finished 13-0 last season and very rarely providing an opportunity for an in-form Group of Five team. Cincinnati bucked the trend, finishing the 2021 season ranked No.4, winning the AAC and having been the only unbeaten team in the country.
This season marks the beginning of a new 12-team playoff era, one that will see some college football teams host playoff games at their home stadiums, which will see even the most lauded atmospheres ratchet up even further. Exciting stuff indeed.
Automatic bids will go to the five highest-ranked conference champions - the winners of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC receive first-round byes, with the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion, currently N0.12 Boise State, from the Mountain West conference, joining them with guaranteed playoff spots. The remaining seven highest ranked teams will then join them in first round of the playoffs, with the winners of those games playing the top four teams in the second round, effectively the national championship quarter-finals.
After the first CFP rankings dropped on Tuesday, this is what the bracket would look like if the College Football Playoff started this weekend:
Top Contenders: Familiar Faces at the Forefront
As per the AP Top 25 rankings, Oregon are the consensus No.1 team in the first set of CFP rankings, sitting on top of the Big Ten and with a win over perennial national championship contenders Ohio State under their belt. The Buckeyes, ranked No.3 by the Associated Press, sit at No.2 according to the CFP committee, while defending champions Georgia, favourites to win the SEC, ranked second by the AP, sit at No.3. Unbeaten Miami, the class of the ACC, make up the top four.
The twist on the new rankings is that Ohio State, ranked at No.2, would drop out of the top four playoff spots as Oregon are currently the presumed Big Ten top-ranked team in their conference. Replacing them as a top-four seed would be the top team in the Big 12, currently BYU.
Teams on the Cusp: Dark Horses to Watch
No.5 Texas eased into the No.1 ranking after a statement road win against Michigan but were bullied at home by a Georgia team smarting from their loss to Alabama, and escaped Nashville with a narrow win over one of the season's surprise packages, Vanderbilt. They could still challenge for the SEC title as Texas A&M remains their toughest opponent left and fellow one-loss Georgia have tough games still to come.
No. 8 Indiana are reborn under coach Curt Cignetti and 9-0 for the first time their history. They will be tough to beat in the Playoff, while No.7 Tennessee boasts wins over Alabama and Oklahoma, but came unstuck against Arkansas and have road games against Georgia and a tricky Vanderbilt team still to come.
Flattering to Deceive
No.11 Alabama looked like they hadn't dropped a beat when they upset Georgia in a Week Four thriller, then frustratingly suffered a shock 40-35 loss to long-time SEC whipping boys Vanderbilt and went down 24-17 on the road to Tennessee, accounting for two sets of goalposts dumped in the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers respectively in the space of three weeks. Returning to form with a shutout of Missouri, a win against No.15 LSU this weekend could go a long way to sealing their playoff place. They can't afford to lose again.
Bouncing back from a shock loss to Northern Illinois in early September, No.11 Notre Dame have since seen off No.14 Texas A&M and No.22 Louisville. Wins in their last two games against No.25 Army and USC should see them seal a playoff spot.
On The Fringe
With an 8-1 record and big wins over ACC rivals Florida State, No.22 Louisville, No.18 Pitt and Stanford, No.13 SMU's only loss was a narrow 18-15 loss to No.9 BYU. With games against Boston College, Virginia and Cal left, the Mustangs' route to the playoff could be via the ACC title game where they are likely to face No.4 Miami.
Thanks to the new CFP format, Texas A&M (7-2) could still make the playoff, despite a home loss to Notre Dame and 44-20 beating at the hands of South Carolina. The Aggies share a one-conference loss with four other teams in the SEC and have following games against New Mexico State and Auburn, before a huge end of season in-state showdown with No.5 Texas at Kyle Field. What a story that would be.
With several big games looming in the final weeks of the season, the College Football Playoff picture is far from set. Games between top-ranked opponents and traditional rivalry showdowns will undoubtedly reshape the current rankings. Teams that manage to peak at the right time and navigate the challenges of some pressure-laden match ups could alter their trajectories and break into the playoff conversation. You can't take your eyes off college football.
The Rankings in Full:
1. Oregon (9-0)
2. Ohio State (7-1)
3. Georgia (7-1)
4. Miami (9-0)
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pitt (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)
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