Projecting the First Edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings

The first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings as selected by the Almighty Committee will be released on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN. The rankings will essentially replace the AP and Coaches Polls as the reference point moving forward (although both will still be updated weekly), and will eventually determine the four teams that make it to the CFB Playoff.

Oklahoma State has yet to be named as one of the top four teams since the new system was installed, but has been as high as 6 as recently as Week 11 of 2015. In 2016, the Pokes reached the top 10 before eventually dropping following a loss to OU to close the season.

Here is how we project the rankings to shake out on Tuesday.

1. Alabama (8-0): The Crimson Tide will remain atop the throne until a team challenges them, despite a fluffy schedule to date. Thus far, they’ve won each game by an average of 33.25 points. Texas A&M is the only team that has even so much as given Saban some pit sweat during a game.

2. Georgia (8-0): The Bulldogs have wins over Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Florida under their belt and boast the No. 3 defense in the country. As far as resumes are concerned, Georgia might have the best.

3. Notre Dame (7-1): Notre Dame’s loss to Georgia early in the season is looking prettay, prettay good right about meow. The Irish have throttlings of USC, Mich. State and NC State on their resume, too, which will play heavily in their favor.

4. Ohio State (7-1): No, I don’t believe the Buckeyes should be ahead of the Sooners team that thumped them in Columbus. But if it’s one thing I’ve learned from the committee it’s that sometimes you have to throw out logic. The win over No. 2 Penn State will be enough to get them in the top 4. It’s the most predictably dumb thing everyone knows is coming.

5. Clemson (7-1): Clemson’s loss to Syracuse is still baffling, even if its starting QB was struggling with health issues. But the Tigers are the reigning national champions and it’s possible the QBs injury will be taken into consideration, which I think gets them into the top 5.

6. Wisconsin (8-0): Wisconsin has … not been impressive. But the 8-0 record — including wins over Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue and Northwestern — are going to be enough to likely warrant at least a top-8 ranking. Let the Big Ten love begin.

7. Oklahoma (7-1): If the committee uses common sense and remembers that Week 2 throttling OU put on Ohio State in Columbus, then OU will be higher and tOSU will be somewhere behind the Sooners. I’m not confident that’s how it will shake out, though.

8. Penn State (7-1): Penn State’s lone loss was to Ohio State, so I don’t think the Nittany Lions will fall too far from grace. They’re the darlings of the Big Ten, which explains why they’re ahead of OU in the AP poll. (Hello, transitive property, anyone?!) I think the committee will rightfully slot them behind OU.

9. Miami (7-0): The Hurricanes are 9th in the AP poll and seemingly being docked for having to cancel a game due to a hurricane, which leaves them short one data point. (The Big 12 feels your pain, Canes.) I think the committee takes their unbeaten record into account while also recognizing that they’ve been less than impressive four weeks in a row with an average margin of victory just 4.5 points during that span.

10. OSU (7-1): Yes, TCU beat OSU in the Big 12 opener. But I’m convinced that the committee doesn’t take into account head-to-head as the end-all be-all. In a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ approach, TCU’s loss to Iowa State this past weekend will keep the Frogs out of the top 10, to the benefit of Oklahoma State.

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