Early college football playoff standings don’t always look like late ones. Any rankings before Thanksgiving weekend are simply a snapshot of a moment in time. Take the first-ever CFP rankings in 2014, for example, which featured Mississippi State as the committee’s first No. 1 team. The Bulldogs did not make the playoffs.
Last Tuesday, the first rankings came out for the 2022 season. Tennessee was No. 1, undefeated TOS ranked behind a loss (at the time) to Alabama, and Georgia sitting at No. 3. And then all hell broke loose in college football.
Georgia marched on Tennessee with a studded boot, No. 4 Clemson got smoked by our Ladyand Alabama—yes, Alabama—lost its second game of the regular season. There has never been a team with two defeats in CFP. This is not committee policy, and may change when the field expands to 12, but as of now that has never happened and is unlikely to happen this year no more. Not with being stuck at the top with teams still unbeaten and one loss away, and the fact that Bama has little chance of winning SEC West. It’s unclear what the committee will do on Tuesday, but there is a plan that sets the stage for the rest of the season. It looks a bit like…
1. Georgia (9–0)
Last week: beat Tennessee 27-13
Next week: State of Mississippi
The Dawgs stay on top, and don’t forget that. They never let Tennessee off the mat in this one and as the rain poured down, it was clear who was No. 1 in the SEC East, the SEC at large and the whole country. Even without returning receiver Adonai Mitchell, UGA has regained its badly needed vertical passing game. It hit early and often, then forced Tennessee into submission, and that’s all she wrote.
2. Michigan (9-0)
Last week: beat Rutgers 52-17
Next week: Nebraska
To give the Scarlet Knights some credit, they hung around in that game until halftime – and then they didn’t do it like the wolverines put down the hammer and did what they usually do under Jim Harbaugh: tear Rutgers apart.
3. Ohio State (9–0)
Last Week: Beat Northwestern 21–7
Next week: Indiana
Terrible weather and terrible grass combined for ohio state to dump that game. After the contest, coach Ryan Day said, “I’m glad this game is over,” as the Buckeyes battled mightily against the elements during this one. As Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to be injured, Ohio State is waiting for him to return to see if he can give him the extra gear that’s missing on offense and bring some sunnier days to the unit.
4.TCU (9–0)
Last Week: Defeat Texas Tech 34-24
Next week: Texas
The Horned Frogs had to face a shrewd Red Raiders side who did their best to make things difficult. But the Frogs won once again and clinched a Big 12 championship berth to boot as the conference eats alive around them.
5. Oregon (7–1)
Last week: beat Colorado 49-10
Next week: Washington
Oregon is clearly not the team that lost by 46 points against Georgia. The Ducks continue to climb the standings together in the race for the Pac-12 title (remember, no splits this year) and they certainly have a playoff bid they’re preparing for as well. The betrayal still lurks over the rest of their schedule with Washington and Oregon State remaining, but they’re not the only team in the West who can say they have a shot at having a New Year’s Eve. Meaningful New Year on the football pitch…
6. USC (8–1)
Last Week: Beat Cal 41–35
Next week: Colorado
See below…
7. UCLA (8–1)
Last Week: Beat Arizona State, 50-36
Next week: Arizona
Let’s treat these two teams together, because everything will be fine on November 19 when they meet at the Rose Bowl. Saturday, the trojans had to hang on to win a match they largely controlled, while the Bruins dealt with a lesser conference opponent in ASU. Their walk towards each other continues at a steady pace.
8.Tennessee (8–1)
Last week: Lost to Georgia 27–13
Next week: against Missouri
All is not over for Tennessee, but its destiny is no longer in its hands. The Vols likely won’t play in the SEC title game, but if they win their remaining games as convincingly as they did before Saturday’s loss to Georgia, there may be a shot they can use potential carnage above them in the standings to drop back to the top four.
9. LSU (7–2)
Last week: beat Alabama 32-21
Next week: Arkansas
Who cares about accents or TikTok videos now? The Tigers are also certainly not what they were in the embarrassing season-opening loss to Florida State or the loss they suffered to Tennessee. They unite around Brian Kelly and his coaching staff, and the confidence can only grow after a spectacular win like USL had on a two-point conversion against the Crimson Tide.
10. Ole Miss (8–1)
Last week: inactive
Next week: Alabama
The rebels didn’t play this weekend and instead spent the week waiting. There’s nothing Coach Lane Kiffin would love more than to jump up and bite an Alabama team leaking oil. Tune in next week to find out if he can pull it off.
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