The Miami Hurricanes have been positioned at the peak of the first College Football Playoff rankings for the season.
Remaining undefeated, the Hurricanes hold the No. 1 slot in the AP Top 25 and were expectedly ranked at the top in the inaugural rankings released on Tuesday evening. However, a closer look at the rankings reveals notable discrepancies between the AP poll and the rankings from the CFP selection committee.
Notre Dame, currently at No. 4 in the AP poll, found itself at No. 11 on Tuesday night. After a one-loss previous season, the Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff subsequent to the committee placing them behind Miami in the final rankings, despite neither team playing during the conference championship weekend.
Of course, Miami triumphed over Notre Dame in their Week 1 matchup. The two squads are set to face each other again on Saturday night, and the significance of this game for playoff implications has remarkably intensified within the last day.
If Notre Dame falls to Miami once more, could they once again find themselves outside the College Football Playoff?
The Irish still have scheduling against Boston College, SMU, and Syracuse left. Since all these opponents are unranked, the Irish could realistically achieve a record of 10-2 even with a loss to the Hurricanes. Considering the apparent emphasis the committee is placing on strength of schedule, Notre Dame may face another year on the fringes of contention.
CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek, who serves as the athletic director for Arkansas, highlighted the Irish’s schedule as a primary factor for their ranking at No. 11.
“When you assess Notre Dame’s schedule and the victories they’ve compiled compared to the teams ranked above them, they currently lack that signature win,” Yurachek explained during an ESPN segment. “They have one loss in their only top-25 matchup at BYU, and their next notable win came at a neutral site. They have a substantial opportunity in front of them at home against Miami to secure that key victory that I believe they require to climb in the rankings.”
The Irish find themselves ranked lower than three two-loss teams. Rounding out the top four are Georgia, Utah, and Indiana, with two-loss Alabama inexplicably at No. 5, surpassing Tennessee by eight spots. This is notable since the Volunteers share an identical record of 6-2 and previously defeated the Crimson Tide by a margin of 16 points.
Alabama is also ranked higher than Kentucky, having inflicted the Wildcats’ sole loss of the season during Week 2. Texas stands at No. 7 ahead of the undefeated UCLA, while BYU and Ole Miss occupy the final two spots in the top ten.
What is the significance of strength of schedule?
Ohio State’s two losses have come against No. 7 Texas and No. 20 USC. The Buckeyes, responsible for Indiana’s only loss this season, are currently positioned at No. 12, just behind the Fighting Irish, and are likely to miss the remainder of the season without QB Julian Sayin. This injury is a significant reason for Ohio State’s absence from the top ten.
In total, there are 10 teams with one loss or fewer represented in the initial rankings, with four of them standing outside the top 10. Texas Tech is slotted at No. 15, Wake Forest at No. 16, and Boise State at No. 25.
Among the six two-loss teams present within the upper 15, all six are members of the SEC. It’s evident that the committee regards the SEC as the nation’s premier conference, and this perspective follows the SEC’s efforts during the spring and summer to push for a strengthened consideration of strength of schedule by the committee.
Currently, the potential exists for a three-loss SEC team to earn a playoff berth, just as Alabama managed to do last season. For this year, Yurachek recognized Alabama’s victories against Kentucky and Mississippi State (while QB Kamario Taylor was in play) and South Carolina as reasons for the Crimson Tide’s position in the top five.
Week 10 promises numerous ranked matchups
If you feel perplexed, irritated, or any combination thereof regarding the opening set of rankings, there’s some positive news: Week 10 will clarify much of the uncertainty.
In addition to No. 1 Miami clashing with No. 11 Notre Dame, other key matchups include No. 2 Georgia traveling to face No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 9 BYU visiting No. 3 Utah, No. 5 Alabama heading to No. 14 LSU, No. 13 Tennessee hosting No. 6 Kentucky, and No. 7 Texas visiting No. 18 Missouri. By the end of Saturday, there’s a substantial likelihood that all three two-loss teams in the top 10 could find themselves with three losses.
Or, for those who enjoy disarray, an even larger cluster of two-loss teams could emerge. That possibility exists as well. Still, we anticipate some degree of resolution prior to the second set of rankings.
What the 12-team playoff scenario would appear like should the season conclude at this juncture. (Yahoo Sports/Dillon Minshall)
(Yahoo Sports/Dillon Minshall)
1. Miami Hurricanes (8-0)
2. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
3. Utah Utes (8-0)
4. Indiana Hoosiers (8-1)
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2)
6. Kentucky Wildcats (7-1)
7. Texas Longhorns (6-2)
8. UCLA Bruins (8-0)
9. BYU Cougars (7-1)
10. Ole Miss Rebels (6-2)
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1)
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2)
13. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)
14. LSU Tigers (6-2)
15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-1)
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-1)
17. Houston Cougars (6-2)
18. Missouri Tigers (6-2)
19. Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2)
20. USC Trojans (7-2)
21. South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3)
22. Arizona Wildcats (6-2)
23. Oregon Ducks (5-3)
24. Florida Gators (5-3)
25. Boise State Broncos (7-1)
