Alabama was No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season Tuesday night, followed by Notre Dame, Clemson, and Ohio State.
Texas A&M became fifth and Florida was sixth, along with Alabama, giving the Southeastern Conference three of the biggest six teams. Throughout the seven-year history of the selection committee’s top 25, Undefeated Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference has the highest ranking by a non-Power Five team at seventh.
Must Read: Who will lead Ohio State football in interceptions in 2020?
No. 8 Northwestern, Miami, and Georgia close out the top-10. Not too well respected by the commission was another undefeated squad from outside the Power Five. BYU was ranked 14th, behind, among others, No. 11 Oklahoma (6-2) and No. 13 Iowa State (6-2).
Oregon, with USC at No. 18, is the highest-ranked Pac-12 team at No. 15.
None has improved regarding the playoff selection process, also in 2020. College football has a strained schedule, varying top-league responses to the pandemic, and doubt about whether the season will last long enough to keep the playoffs safe. The Playoff, though also looks for something of a business-as-usual plan.
2Min Read: Who could be the surprise team in the NFL this year?
In a pandemic, just like this college football season, this year’s ranking schedule has been staggered and truncated.
The 13-person selection committee normally begins ranking teams around Halloween and generates six rankings that decide which 12 teams will compete in the semifinals and big bowl games before the final ones.
This is the first of four rankings, set for publication on Dec. 20, leading up to the last ones that actually matter.
Leave a Reply