The fifth and penultimate version of the College Football Playoff Rankings have been launched Tuesday evening with undefeated Oregon sustaining its spot at No. 1 as has been the case in each set of rankings throughout this preliminary yr of the expanded 12-team discipline. The solely remaining undefeated group within the FBS, the Ducks sit within the high slot looking for to make their second playoff look general — first for the reason that four-team discipline debuted after the 2014 season — getting into convention championship weekend.
Seven of 10 groups ranked No. 1 in a season’s preliminary CFP Rankings finally reached the playoff within the four-team period with Mississippi State (2014), Tennessee (2022) and Ohio State (2023) being the exceptions. With eight extra spots within the discipline this season, Oregon sits in a robust place at 11-0 as the one remaining undefeated program within the nation.
Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and Georgia spherical out the highest 5 with the Bulldogs changing Ohio State, which fell to Michigan in The Game final Saturday however retained a spot within the projected 12-team discipline.
In the battle for the ultimate playoff positions among the many three-loss SEC groups and Miami, it’s Alabama that presently stands on high of not solely the Hurricanes however Ole Miss and South Carolina.
The high Group of Five program in Tuesday’s launch remained Boise State at No. 10, its highest rating but this season. With the 12-team playoff mannequin granting automated bids to the 5 highest-ranked convention champions, the Broncos stand in pole place to earn that chance ought to they win their league. At this juncture, they might obtain a bye. Other Group of Five groups on this week’s rankings are UNLV (20), Army West Point (24) and Memphis (25).
Let’s check out the complete CFP Rankings high 25 together with the projected bracket seedings for the primary 12 groups. Check out evaluation by bowls knowledgeable Jerry Palm beneath.
College Football Playoff Rankings, Dec. 3
- Oregon (12-0) | Projected No. 1 seed
- Texas (11-1) | Projected No. 2 seed
- Penn State (11-1) | Projected No. 5 seed
- Notre Dame (11-1) | Projected No. 6 seed
- Georgia (10-2) | Projected No. 7 seed
- Ohio State (10-2) | Projected No. 8 seed
- Tennessee (10-2) | Projected No. 9 seed
- SMU (11-1) | Projected No. 3 seed
- Indiana (11-1) | Projected No. 10 seed
- Boise State (11-1) | Projected No. 4 seed
- Alabama (9-3) | Projected No. 11 seed
- Miami (10-2)
- Ole Miss (9-3)
- South Carolina (9-3)
- Arizona State (10-2) | Projected No. 12 seed
- Iowa State (10-2)
- Clemson (9-3)
- BYU (10-2)
- Missouri (9-3)
- UNLV (10-2)
- Illinois (9-3)
- Syracuse (9-3)
- Colorado (9-3)
- Army West Point (10-1)
- Memphis (10-2)
Analysis by bowl knowledgeable Jerry Palm
One of probably the most dependable behaviors of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee during the last decade has been groups sitting idle over convention championship weekend not seeing a lot of a change of their rankings standing. It is feasible for groups which can be taking part in to maneuver about amongst them, however their place relative to one another doesn’t change.
That has been universally true … besides on one event.
It was again in 2014, the primary yr of the CFP, when the ultimate weekend was not simply championship video games. Michigan State was two spots forward of Mississippi State getting into the ultimate weekend with Kansas State sandwiched in between. The Wildcats misplaced that weekend, and when the ultimate rankings have been launched, the Bulldogs had jumped one spot forward of the Spartans. Nine years of consistency provides us fairly good motive to consider that would be the case in opposition to this season.
That implies that the cutline between No. 10 Alabama (in) and No. 11 ranked Miami (out) would be the cutline on Sunday as nicely. The losers of the Big Ten and SEC title video games will keep excessive sufficient within the rankings to stay within the playoff. If No. 8 SMU have been to lose, nevertheless, they might get replaced by No. 17 Clemson within the discipline because the convention champion. But, I feel it’s unlikely that the Mustangs would keep excessive sufficient within the rankings to stay an at-large group with a loss. Clemson might not bounce SMU as a result of it might have one fewer loss, however I’d not be in any respect stunned if SMU fell beneath Miami.
Keep in thoughts that there isn’t a particular reward for profitable the common season within the eyes of the CFP Selection Committee. There is not any head-to-head consequence between the Mustangs and Hurricanes, so they might merely be evaluated as every other two groups would.
SMU’s state of affairs, in that regard, could be totally different than if Georgia or Penn State misplaced. The choice committee has traditionally been very sort to lower-ranked groups that lose their convention championship video games so long as the sport is aggressive. The identical consideration has not utilized when the higher-ranked group loses. It is not any on condition that the Mustangs keep within the discipline as an at-large group with a loss to a group ranked 9 spots beneath them.
So, as of at this time, the at-large groups could be, so as: Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Indiana and Alabama. Two of these groups are taking part in on Saturday, although, so it might change. Miami is the primary group out, however as we simply examined, the Hurricanes might nonetheless discover a manner in. SMU is the one different group is in play for an at-large spot if it wants it.
