The first College Football Playoff rankings just dropped on “College Football Top 25” this Tuesday, and holy smokes, if you weren’t expecting “rage bait,” then you haven’t been paying attention. This initial list is nowhere close to the AP Top 25 released just days before, and the committee definitely knew what it was doing. Seriously, some of these placements are absolutely wild, kicking off what’s already been a crazy season with an even crazier pecking order.
The SEC Committee, Or Just Really Good?
If you thought the “SEC bias” narrative had finally died, think again. The committee absolutely leaned into it, putting a staggering 10 SEC teams into the initial rankings. Ten! Five of those are chilling in the top 10, which, let’s be real, is a massive leg up for any team eyeing those crucial at-large spots later in November. And get this: every single SEC team in the CFP rankings, except for Georgia (who is perfectly aligned at No. 2 in both), is ranked higher here than in the AP Top 25. Alabama jumped four spots to No. 5, Texas climbed three to No. 7, and even South Carolina, a three-loss team, is the highest-ranked in their category at No. 21, ahead of their AP No. 23 spot. It just reinforces the idea that the committee views the SEC as subjectively the best conference in the FBS, giving them the benefit of the doubt with their one-loss (Georgia), two-loss (Alabama), and three-loss (South Carolina) teams.
Indiana’s Unbelievable Rise
But hold up, because the biggest jaw-dropper has to be No. 4 Indiana. Seriously? The highest-ranked Big Ten team, despite having a head-to-head loss to No. 12 Ohio State, and while No. 8 UCLA remains the *only* unbeaten squad left in the conference? That’s some Grade-A head-scratcher material right there. The Hoosiers have squeaked by with four one-score victories in Big Ten play, including a nail-biting 23-16 overtime escape against Minnesota in Week 9, and haven’t beaten a single team currently in the Top 25. Should they be a top-five team right now? Nah, probably not. But credit where it’s due: coach Curt Cignetti has this team positioned to make a third straight College Football Playoff appearance with a 10-win season. They can really solidify that with a huge win against No. 20 USC on November 14.
Chaos Is The New Normal
This initial batch of rankings is just pure, unadulterated chaos. Notre Dame, for example, is seven spots *lower* in the CFP rankings than they are in the AP Top 25, landing at No. 11. Meanwhile, No. 23 Oregon is somehow in the CFP Top 25 despite being completely unranked in the AP poll. CFP committee chairman Hunter Yurachek wasn’t wrong when he said on ESPN, “This has been such a crazy football season filled with unbelievable parity through the first eight weeks.” He knows what’s coming: “There are a number of football games to be played. Just look at the matchups coming this weekend. … We’re looking forward to the task at hand, and it will be a difficult task each week.” He’s not kidding! Week 10 is going to be insane, with seven matchups featuring teams from this very CFP Top 25. Get ready, because these rankings are begging for massive shake-ups, and we’re all here for the ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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