GRAPEVINE, Texas, Nov. 3 (UPI) — The selection committee for the College Football Playoff released its initial rankings Tuesday evening, and there were few surprises.
The committee, comprised of 12 officials from across the country, ranked Clemson at No. 1. Some analysts expected that the Tigers, who are undefeated at 8-0, would indeed top the panel’s list.
Louisiana State University (7-0) was ranked second, followed by Ohio State (8-0) and Alabama (7-1) to round out the Playoff field, if the season ended today. Notre Dame (7-1) was ranked fifth.
As was the case at the end of last season, neither Baylor (7-0) nor TCU (8-0) is ranked inside the top four — which are the only teams that get a playoff bid. Baylor was ranked sixth and TCU eighth in the committee’s initial rankings, which were revealed on ESPN Tuesday evening.
In the media and coaches polls, Baylor is ranked second and TCU fifth and third.
Michigan State (8-0) came in at No. 7, Iowa (8-0) at No. 9 and Florida (7-1) at No. 10. Stanford (7-1), Utah (7-1), Memphis (8-0), Oklahoma State (8-0) and Oklahoma (7-1) round out the committee’s top 15. Toledo and Houston, the only other undefeated teams, are ranked at No. 24 and 25, respectively.
The highest ranked 2-loss team is Michigan at No. 17. The Southeastern Conference had the most teams (6) in the committee’s Top 25, followed by the Big Ten (5).
“It’s exciting to be back as we kick off the second year of the College Football Playoff,” selection committee chairman Jeff Long said in a news release. “We are little more than half way through the season and a lot of football that remains to be played. This is the first of six rankings. They are the result of games that have been played thus far. Change is guaranteed and that’s what makes college football exciting.”
The committee will produce five more rankings, with the final version being announced on Dec. 6. This year, the Playoff semifinals will be played at the Orange and Cotton bowls.
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