By Cameron Teague Robinson, Seth Emerson, Austin Meek and Nicole Auerbach
The second College Football Playoff rankings of the 2023 season were unveiled Tuesday night. Here’s what you need to know:
College Football Playoff Top 25
|
CFP Rk
|
Team
|
Record
|
Prev
|
AP Rk
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
9-0 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
2 |
9-0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
9-0 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
4 |
9-0 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
5 |
9-0 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
6 |
8-1 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
7 |
8-1 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
8-1 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
8-1 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
10 |
8-1 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
8-1 |
13 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
7-2 |
16 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
7-2 |
17 |
14 |
|
|
14 |
7-2 |
12 |
16 |
|
|
15 |
7-2 |
22 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
7-2 |
21 |
19 |
|
|
17 |
7-2 |
9 |
17 |
|
|
18 |
7-2 |
18 |
13 |
|
|
19 |
6-3 |
14 |
18 |
|
|
20 |
7-3 |
15 |
22 |
|
|
21 |
6-3 |
NR |
23 |
|
|
22 |
7-2 |
NR |
NR |
|
|
23 |
8-1 |
24 |
20 |
|
|
24 |
7-2 |
NR |
24 |
|
|
25 |
6-3 |
23 |
NR |
Buckeyes retain top spot
Ohio State held on to the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week. After debuting in the top spot, the Buckeyes went on the road and beat Rutgers. Although it wasn’t a resume-defining win, it was enough for the playoff committee to keep them at No. 1 despite Georgia beating No. 14 Missouri on Saturday.
In the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t change much for Ohio State. They host Michigan State and Minnesota in the next two weeks and the goal is to avoid an upset before going to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on Nov. 25. If the Buckeyes do that, they will control their own destiny to the College Football Playoff, once again. — Cameron Teague Robinson, Ohio State football writer
How Georgia compares to Ohio State
There was some thought the committee could use the win over Missouri — Georgia’s first over a now-ranked team — as an excuse to elevate the Bulldogs, but it’s still just one ranked win versus the two for Ohio State. Look lower in the rankings: No. 9 Ole Miss is Georgia’s next opponent, No. 13 Tennessee is after that. (After the Volunteers play Missouri.)
So if the Bulldogs win out in the regular season they either get up to No. 1 or are a solid No. 2 going into the SEC championship. And even if the Georgia loses one of the next two — very possible — its resume would seem strong enough that a win in the SEC championship would be enough to get in. Does it get interesting if the Bulldogs are 12-0 but lose the SEC championship? Yes, but that depends on what happens elsewhere in the country.
Bottom line, Georgia’s schedule is slowly ceasing to be an albatross. — Seth Emerson, Georgia football writer
Importance of Week 11 for Michigan
Unless you’re talking about sign-stealing, there isn’t much to discuss with Michigan. The Wolverines beat Purdue 41-13 to improve to 9-0 and stay at No. 3 in the rankings. Next week will be much more interesting. If the Wolverines beat Penn State, they could have a case to move up to No. 1 or No. 2.
If they lose, their chances of getting back into the top four will depend on beating Ohio State at the end of the year and hoping for help from other teams. This week is definitely a crossroads for Michigan’s season. — Austin Meek, Michigan football writer
Committee’s inconsistencies
The top eight teams from last week all won, and nothing significant changed in this week’s rankings. The biggest question I’d had coming into Tuesday was whether or not Georgia could leapfrog Ohio State for the top spot, now that the Bulldogs got a top-15 win over Missouri. But it appears the selection committee will wait for a little more of a resume boost before it moves the Dawgs up.
It’s a little frustrating to see the committee rely on resume to justify Ohio State at No. 1 but lean more into eye test for Georgia and Michigan, keeping them above Florida State and Washington. Why would the Huskies, who have the best win of anyone (No. 6 Oregon) be left out of the top four? It is inconsistent logic by this committee. — Nicole Auerbach, senior college football writer
Required reading
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
Source link
credite