The opening CFP rankings are out and they will get the fans talking as there are a few interesting decisions, to say the least. The top is dominated by the SEC which has five in the first eleven. They are headed by Tennessee who is just about deservedly No.1. They have wins over two top-ten teams and their offense has been a joy to watch this year. One of these is Alabama which is the highest-ranked one-loss team and that is no doubt why they rank where they do.
A Three-Loss Team Included
It is slightly surprising to see Texas voted in at 24 given they have three losses and no real win of note. The rationale must be quality loss with the one to the Tide outweighing their defeat to a now 4-4 Texas Tech. This must leave Florida State a little perplexed given they are 5-3 with a win over no 10 LSU and one score losses to three ranked teams including No 4 Clemson!
Notre Dame may also be peeved as they gave Ohio State a decent game and have wins over the current No 17 & 20.
Getting No Love
Putting TCU in seventh at 8-0 is effectively signalling that they will have to stay unbeaten to get a place. The argument here will probably be that they have not looked dominant, but neither has Georgia of late and it hasn’t harmed them.
However, if that looks bad spare a thought for Tulane. The Green Wave are 7-1 but five two-loss teams are ahead of them. One of which is Kansas State who, you guessed it lost at home to Tulane earlier in the season! It looks like the Power Five bias is still in play.
Michael Pratt and the Tulane Green Wave are having one of their best seasons ever.
Image: Mark Fann/Shutterstock.com
Anyway the opening rankings are below and they will no doubt change quite a bit before the season ends.
CFP Opening Rankings
1 Tennessee 8-0
2 Ohio State 8-0
3 Georgia 8-0
4 Clemson 8-0
5 Michigan 8-0
6 Alabama 7-1
7 TCU 8-0
8 Oregon 7-1
9 USC 7-1
10 LSU 6-2
11 Ole Miss 8-1
12 UCLA 7-1
13 Kansas State 6-2
14 Utah 6-2
15 Penn State 6-2
16 Illinois 7-1
17 North Carolina 7-1
18 Oklahoma State 6-2
19 Tulane 7-1
20 Syracuse 6-2
21 Wake Forest 6-2
22 NC State 6-2
23 Oregon State 6-2
24 Texas 5-3
25 UCF 6-2
Conference representation
SEC 5
ACC 5
PAC-12 5
Big Ten 4
Big 12 4
AAC 2
You can check previous CFP rankings here
