Ohio State topped the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, with Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama close behind. All four teams remain unbeaten as the regular season enters its final stretch. BYU, also without a loss, sits at seventh.
Georgia ranks fifth, followed by Mississippi, making it clear that the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference continue to dominate the scene. This is especially notable in a season full of surprises.
The playoff committee will release rankings weekly, wrapping up on December 6. This year, the college football playoff expands to 12 teams, with the tournament set to begin on December 19-20. The top four seeds will face the winners of the first round during the New Year holiday. The final championship game is scheduled for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Texas Tech is ranked eighth, while Oregon follows at ninth. Notre Dame breaks the mold as the only non-Power Five team in the top 12, landing in tenth place, ahead of Texas and Oklahoma.
If the playoffs were determined by these rankings, Texas and Oklahoma would be out, thanks to a rule that prioritizes the five best conference champions, even if they fall outside the top 12. Interestingly, Memphis, though unranked, leads the Group of 5 conferences.
Teams like Vanderbilt (16th) and Georgia Tech (17th) are still in the mix. They made headlines earlier this season with shocking wins that reshaped the rankings.
This year, a significant change to the bracket eliminates the first-round bye for the top four conference champions. For instance, Virginia would drop from a potential No. 3 seed to the 11th seed, facing Mississippi away. This tweak has elevated Texas A&M, now just behind Indiana.
Committee chair Mack Rhoades mentioned that they focused on defensive performance when ranking teams. Despite Texas A&M’s stronger schedule, the defense of Ohio State and Indiana impressed the committee more.
Looking at Oregon, Rhoades noted the committee assessed their overall team quality from game footage, explaining their lower ranking despite a better AP poll position.
As college football evolves, fans and analysts scrutinize these rankings closely. The debates about strength of schedule and team performance will only become more intense as the playoffs approach.
For detailed insights on rankings and updates, check out the AP Top 25 College Football Poll at AP News.
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