Published by: AK98
College Football Playoff Rankings
The selection panel for the College Football Playoff has issued an updated set of rankings for the Top 25 teams, reflecting the latest developments from this past weekend’s action. This update follows their initial establishment of the season’s ranking criteria and evaluation of each contender’s likelihood of securing a playoff spot come season’s end.
The latest rankings were unveiled Tuesday evening on ESPN. Every week, pundits across college football offer a renewed perspective on the Top 25 as the battle for supremacy continues. With only four spots available in the CFP, the committee meticulously examines the performance indicators for contenders on an equal footing, appraising the significance of their victories and defeats.
There were no drastic changes to this week’s list, as everybody inside the Top 10 won their games. Under the guidance of Kirby Smart, #2 Georgia is in contention for a third consecutive national title, being the only undefeated team still left in the nation’s strongest conference, the SEC. However, it was Ohio State that emerged at the forefront of last week’s rankings. Many questioned their top ranking, seeing as Georgia has done nothing but win these past 2.5 seasons.
This seems more like a boost for the implications of the Michigan/OSU game at the end of the season. As I see it, the committee is trying to leave a path for both Michigan & OSU to make the CFP. Michigan has maintained its position within the top four, in spite of the ongoing NCAA investigation into claims of misconduct. Although, there are serious concerns among Boo Corrigan and his contemporaries.
And what a name. Boo Corrigan.
That sounds like the name of a teacup yorkie in an off-off-broadway production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Post Week 10, the list of undefeated teams has been narrowed down to seven: Georgia, Florida State, James Madison, Liberty, Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington. #6 Oregon sits behind #5 Washington, with UW owning the tiebreaker after their victory against the Ducks a few weeks ago. Oregon’s chances to make the CFP would elevate significantly if they were to beat UW at the final PAC12 championship game. With the exception of #6 Oregon, #8 Alabama, & #11 Louisville, #7 Texas, #9 Ole Miss and #10 Penn St., are all one-loss teams who will need outside help from other teams, lest their dreams of a National Championship will be dashed.
Here are the CFP Rankings as of Tuesday Evening:
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Ohio State | 9-0 |
| 2. | Georgia | 9-0 |
| 3. | Michigan | 9-0 |
| 4. | Florida State | 9-0 |
| 5. | Washington | 9-0 |
| 6. | Oregon | 8-1 |
| 7. | Texas | 8-1 |
| 8. | Alabama | 8-1 |
| 9. | Ole Miss | 8-1 |
| 10. | Penn State | 8-1 |
| 11. | Louisville | 8-1 |
| 12. | Oregon State | 7-2 |
| 13. | Tennessee | 7-2 |
| 14. | Missouri | 7-2 |
| 15. | Oklahoma State | 7-2 |
| 16. | Kansas | 7-2 |
| 17. | Oklahoma | 7-2 |
| 18. | Utah | 7-2 |
| 19. | LSU | 6-3 |
| 20. | Notre Dame | 7-3 |
| 21. | Arizona | 6-3 |
| 22. | Iowa | 7-2 |
| 23. | Tulane | 8-1 |
| 24. | North Carolina | 7-2 |
| 25. | Kansas State | 6-3 |
Other than #6 Oregon, #8 Alabama is the only other team who controls their destiny. If they can upset #2 Georgia at the SEC Championship Game, they will most likely leapfrog the Bulldogs in the rankings, moving into the #3 spot.The same goes for #11 Louisville. Should they defeat an undefeated #4 Florida St. & take home the ACC title, it would be hard for the playoff committee to overlook them. If they were to make it in, they would probably slide into the final spot by the skin of their teeth.
Either way, their season would be an incredible accomplishment for a program not expected to sniff a New Year’s Six bowl game, let alone play in one. While the argument could be made for their schedule not being the toughest, nor them being a better team then say an Alabama or a Michigan, I personally love the little guys getting a chance. While TCU got waxed in the Natty, they did beat a favored Michigan Wolverine team; a team the pundits said they had no chance of beating.
As for #7 Texas, if they win the BIG12, it would most likely be against a two-loss team (Oklahoma St./Oklahoma) which will not be enough to surpass another one-loss team with a victory against an undefeated. Even if #8 Alabama defeated #2 UGA for the SEC title, they would have little to no chance of leapfrogging a one-loss Georgia or a PAC12 champion #6 Oregon. Their only real hope is the committee has a Lone-Star State agent embedded deep inside, spreading UT bias around to other members.
Aside from fantasy Texas tradecraft, the only real way for #7 Texas, #9 Ole Miss, or #10 Penn St. to get in is if there is complete chaos for the final month of the football year. Otherwise, NY6s will be in their future.
