First College Football Playoff Rankings Released, Michigan Moving Up

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November 6, 2019

The NCAA Selection Committee released its first rankings of the College Football Playoff Top 25. While only 4 teams will earn the opportunity to compete in the year ending playoffs, the rankings are important when it comes to bowl game invitations and big game matchups.

Who’s In?

The Top 4 

The announcement provided some insight into how the committee views the strength of the undefeated Top 5 that have dominated the AP Top 25 rankings for most of the season. The pollsters again ranked LSU 1st, followed by Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Penn State.

But, the selection committee saw things from a different perspective. Ohio State is ranked at the top, followed by LSU, Alabama, Penn State, and Clemson coming in 5th.

Big Games Ahead

This weekend LSU and Alabama face-off in what might be a playoff berth deciding contest.

Battle of the Un-Beatens, Bama vs LSU

Penn State will try and keep their record unblemished when they travel to Minnesota to take on the unbeaten and 17th ranked Gophers. The Nittany Lions have a date with Ohio State coming up that could very well determine a playoff spot as well.

Georgia 6th, Oregon 7th, Utah 8th, and Oklahoma 9th are all one-loss teams looking to work their way back to a spot in the Top 4

Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines have been on a tear since their loss to Penn State. After beating a ranked Notre Dame team 45-14, they walked over Maryland last week 38-7.

They open the playoff rankings at number 14, looking to move up with rivalry games against Michigan State next week and Ohio State to close out the season. Both contests are at home in the Big House.

Michigan’s Miles Jackson(15) took the opening kickoff from Maryland and returned it 97 yards for an early 7-0 lead. Photo Credit / https://mgoblue.com/

The Rankings Comparison

RANK COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ASSOCIATED PRESS COACHES POLL
1.
Ohio State

LSU (17)

Alabama (37)
2.
LSU

Alabama (21)

LSU (11)
3.
Alabama

Ohio State (17)

Clemson (9)
4.
Penn State

Clemson (7)

Ohio State (8)
5.
Clemson

Penn State

Penn State
6.
Georgia

Georgia

Georgia
7.
Oregon

Oregon

Oregon
8.
Utah

Utah

Oklahoma
9.
Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Utah
10.
Florida

Florida

Baylor
11.
Auburn

Baylor

Florida
12.
Baylor

Auburn

Auburn
13.
Wisconsin

Minnesota

Minnesota
14.
Michigan

Michigan

Michigan
15.
Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame
16.
Kansas State

Wisconsin

Wisconsin
17.
Minnesota

Cincinnati

Cincinnati
18.
Iowa

Iowa

Iowa
19.
Wake Forest

Memphis

Memphis
20.
Cincinnati

Kansas State

Wake Forest
21.
Memphis

Boise State

Boise State
22.
Boise State

Wake Forest

Kansas State
23.
Oklahoma State

SMU

SMU
24.
Navy

San Diego State

San Diego State
25.
SMU

Navy

Courtesy of The NCAA