OSU Debuts at No. 11 in College Football Playoff Rankings

Finally, a ranking that actually matters. Finally, a starting point.

The College Football Playoff committee released its first ranking of the 2021 season on Tuesday night and the Cowboys are currently on the outside looking in — but not too far out. Oklahoma State came in at No. 11, tying for the highest the Cowboys have debuted in this ranking since 2017. The Cowboys are also No. 11 in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Here’s a look at the full ranking, starting with the current top 4. (Don’t worry. I won’t tease you like ESPN.)

That makes three Big 12 teams in the ranking with the Cowboys owning a one-spot edge over Baylor after winning the head-to-head. Somewhat surprisingly, the only 9-0 team in the country, Oklahoma, is No. 8. The Sooners have been sporadic so far this year but are still in control of their own destiny.

The Cincinnati ranking is, well, interesting and could have an effect on the brand name of the future Big 12. With bell-cow/calf Oklahoma and Texas moseying off toward greener southeast pastures, adding a recent CFP Final Four could have helped quite a bit. With the undefeated Bearcats on the outside looking in, they do not control their own destiny. It is the highest CFP ranking ever by a non-Power conference team, beating out Cincinnati last year at 7.

The Cowboys have been included in five of the last six years by the committee, only missing out in 2014 and 2018 since its inception. Their initial ranking each season is highlighted below.