The First CFP Rankings Are Out and the Message Is Clear – Schedule Tough

By: Chad Wilson – Editor – GridironStuds Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds

The much anticipated first college football playoff rankings are out and there were a few surprises for the common fan.  Through the years of major college football, the fans, writers, etc. have been conditioned to put on a pedestal undefeated football teams.  In this year and perhaps into the future,  the message may be “not so fast”

The initial college football playoff rankings as comprised by the committee of 14 has the University of Georgia as it’s number one (sorry Bama) and Wisconsin dropped to number nine overall.  In comparison,  the AP poll has Alabama at #1 and Wisconsin sitting in the playoff cone at #4.  However,  the committee is not as impressed with Alabama’s on field accomplishments this season as they are with Georgia’s.  Buoyed by their one point road win at Notre Dame,  the committee feels that for now,  Georgia is numero uno in the country.  Kudos is being given here to Georgia for scheduling a tough non-conference opponent like Notre Dame as opposed to the cupcakes that Bama has feasted on.  Unfortunately,  for Alabama,  one of those cupcakes happens to be preseason Top 5 team Florida St. that is mired in on of their worst season’s since Burt Reynolds was a box office hit.  If all things stay the same,  the true #1 out of these two SEC giants will be settled on the field in the conference championship game.

The team with more pressing problems are the Wisconsin Badgers.  Wisconsin’s pile up of under the level opposition like Utah St., FAU and BYU has given them that sinking feeling in the college football playoff rankings.  Undefeated is good enough for the writers in the AP poll but the committee is seeing past the standings. With Wisconsin being in the weaker half of the Big 10,  it is imperative that they take more chances in their non-conference scheduling.  They simply won’t be able to get away with avoiding Power 5 conferences in September anymore.  The rest of the season does’t provide any opportunities to jump over teams either.  The only remaining heavyweight on Wisconsin’s schedule is Michigan who is having a hot and cold season.  Wisconsin must rely on some slip ups by the 8 teams ranked ahead of them and / or be in a must win situation in the Big 10 championship game against what looks to be Ohio St.

Some other discrepancies in the CFP poll in comparison to the AP poll is Oklahoma at #5 vs. an AP #8.  Oklahoma is getting credit for scheduling and beating Ohio St. in September and is essentially getting a pardon for their loss to Iowa St. who does not at all resemble your daddy’s Cyclones of old. Notre Dame also got a lift from the committee as they should.  Few can argue with some of the teams the Irish have taken on this season including Georgia, USC, Michigan St. and NC State.  They have triumphed over all except Georgia who they fell to by a point.  Notre Dame looks a like a true player in this playoff picture.  We will see how their lack of conference affiliation affects them when the final tally is made.  Notre Dame is 3rd in the CFP poll as opposed to 5th in the AP.

Finally there is Miami who sits at #10 and #9 in the CFB and AP polls respectively.  Two things are currently plaguing the Canes.  First is Florida St.’s attrition and Miami’s ugly wins over the last four weeks.  When you look at Miami’s resume it’s tough to point at a game and say that was an impressive win but the good thing for the Canes is what lies ahead.  A date with #13 ranked Virginia Tech and then #3 Notre Dame could have the affect of a Harvard cum laude on their resume if the Canes can get wins of any kind.  Should this happen,  Miami would be in prime position to enter the college football playoff should they also win the ACC Championship.

I have often wondered why,  the powers that be don’t lean on power rankings from the Vegas oddsmakers when constructing these rankings but oh yeah,  the optics of doing such a thing would not be best. Don’t get me started on that.

Leave a Reply