A season filled with surprises yielded few when the inaugural rankings for the new 12-team college football playoff were released on Tuesday. Undefeated Oregon claimed the top spot, while Ohio State narrowly edged out Georgia for the second position in the committee’s first of six weekly polls.
Other than that, the committee’s top 12 closely mirrored the latest AP poll, despite the constant upheaval caused by numerous upsets that left the powerful SEC without a single undefeated team. This near alignment meant that Alabama, despite two losses, slotted in at No. 11 and would make the playoff, as would Boise State. The Mountain West Conference leaders secured the 12th position, earning an automatic berth as the champion of the fifth-best conference.
“Boise State is an impressive team,” stated Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, chair of the selection committee. Manuel justified Ohio State’s No. 2 ranking, noting the Buckeyes’ only loss was a narrow one-point defeat by Oregon. Both the Buckeyes and third-ranked Bulldogs received higher ratings than undefeated Miami, likely due to their tougher schedules compared to the ‘Canes, who were ranked fourth.
“We’re splitting hairs as far as looking at two great teams,” Manuel explained.
The rankings will continue weekly until December 8, when the final list sets the playoff bracket. The playoff begins December 20-21, with seeds 5-12 playing at the higher seed’s home field, culminating in the national title game in Atlanta on January 20. The rankings don’t directly determine bracket placement. The top four conference champions earn first-round byes, which currently would be Oregon (1), Georgia (3), Miami (4), and BYU (9).
The committee favored Alabama over various one-loss teams, citing the Tide’s challenging schedule, allowing them to surpass teams like No. 13 SMU (ACC), No. 17 Iowa State (Big 12), and No. 18 Pitt (ACC). The remainder of the bracket’s first-weekange matches and rankings: No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Indiana, and No. 10 Notre Dame. Just missing the cut was No. 13 SMU, while Army, undefeated at 8-0 and leading the American Athletic Conference, barely secured the 25th spot.
First-round matchups, based on this week’s rankings, include No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State, marking the Broncos’ most significant postseason game since defeating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. No. 11 Alabama faces No. 5 Texas, whose 2023 victory over the Crimson Tide shattered the myth of Alabama’s invincibility. No. 10 Notre Dame will play at No. 7 Penn State, evoking memories of the 1992 Snow Bowl. No. 9 Indiana will challenge No. 8 Tennessee, a historic opportunity for the Hoosiers, set against the backdrop of Rocky Top’s vast crowd.
Upcoming games could shift these rankings. LSU, ranked 15, hosts Alabama on Saturday in what feels like a do-or-die showdown. Georgia will visit No. 17 Ole Miss, whose two losses were both decided by a field goal against Kentucky and LSU. Indiana is favored by 12.5 points against Michigan, gearing up for a crucial November 23 matchup against Ohio State.
