On December 3, the College Football Playoff Committee released their Week 5 playoff rankings. The rankings were released and not discussed on ESPN after being formulated by the selection committee due to basketball conflicts The Selection Committee is comprised of coaches, athletic directors, analysts, and television personalities.
Analysts discussed online the CFP Week 5 Rankings. The committee ranked the teams from a hotel conference room in Grapevine, Texas. It was interesting that Ohio State fell to No. 6 after their huge upset loss at home to the far inferior (on paper) University of Michigan football team. How much will the conference championship games impact the rankings?
CFP Week 5 Rankings
Oregon maintained its top spot in the CFP week 5 rankings. They control their destiny and if they win the Big Ten Championship game over Penn State, they will get a coveted first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. Texas was ranked second by the committee following Ohio State’s loss. Ironically, University of Texas Quarterback Quinn Ewers used to play for Ohio State.
Penn State was ranked third. They must upset the University of Oregon in The Big Ten Conference Championship game if they are to receive a first-round bye. Penn State benefitted greatly from Ohio State’s loss. Notre Dame went up one spot to No. 4. It may hurt them that they do not have a conference championship game to play, but it is now fair to wonder whether they will get a bye in the first round of the playoff. Georgia rose one spot and is ranked No. 5. They are the first-ranked two-loss team.
Ohio State fell four spots to here following their loss to Michigan, but they will host a playoff game if they stay there. Tennessee climbed three spots to No. 7 in the CFP rankings. They have two losses but are at a spot in the rankings where they are safe. SMU was No. 9 in the CFP Week 5 rankings. They only have one loss but have played a weaker schedule.
Further Rankings Breakdown
Indiana was No. 9 in the CFP Week 5 rankings and it seems they have recovered somewhat from their bad loss to Ohio State. That head-to-head loss has them ranked lower than Ohio State. Boise State slid in at 10 as they jumped up one spot. They are in pretty good shape to make the CFP if they win the Mountain West Conference Championship Game.
Alabama was the first three-loss team in the CFP Week 5 ranking at No. 11. Alabama is one of the most entertaining teams in the CFP Week 5 rankings and is deserving of its spot. Miami is the last team in the field currently and ranked No. 12. The first two teams out are Mississippi and South Carolina.
What May Happen
As we analyze the CFP Week 5 rankings we note there are several likely important games left to play. Most notably, the conference championship games are this weekend and chaos is likely to ensue. The College Football Playoff Committee gives the four highest-ranked conference champions byes, so those spots are coveted. Winning a conference championship game is an absolute must as teams can not afford to lose a game this late in the season.
Conclusion
Expect chaos next week with the conference championship games. The College Football Playoff Committee wanted to make the conference championship games important, and they are. Winners of the conference championship game will be rewarded by maintaining, or improving, their ranking. Losers of conference championship games will fall in the rankings. While conference championship games are compelling television, they are also vital to playoff positioning.
