The new conference realignment has switched up the college football landscape more than we expected. Colleges that have been ranked in the top five or top ten are now falling from their long-standing reigns and letting other teams have their time to shine. With these new conferences, there are new rivalries at play and matchups that now matter in making the playoffs. Let’s look at how college football is fairing this 2024 season.
Navigating a New Era
This new age of college football has changed teams that have reigned in the top ten for years, for better or worse. The team from Tuscaloosa started this season with a new coach, so all eyes are on them throughout the transition. They were riding a No. 1 ranking high with their victory over top-ranked team Georgia when it all came crashing down on October 5th. We will see if they can turn their season around with the upset heard all around the South when they lost by 5 points to Vanderbilt. On that same Saturday, Arkansas pulled out a victory against then No. 4 ranked Tennessee. The Razorbacks kept pace with the Volunteers’ two touchdowns in the third quarter and rushed an 11-yard touchdown with a minute and seventeen seconds left in the game. Texas seemed unstoppable and had fans expecting a win against Georgia after losing to the Crimson Tide weeks before. This was not the case when Georgia came up with a 23-point lead over Texas in the third quarter. The Longhorns tried to answer but came up short with Georgia‘s final 30-15 victory.
Teams Taking Center Stage
The AP rankings look a little different this season, with Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and Miami ahead and in the mix with previously dominating teams like Georgia, Texas, the team from Tuscaloosa, and Tennessee. Fans cannot deny that these top-ranked college football teams have had a new spark due to their winning streaks. Here are the top 25 rankings from the CFP Selection Committee as of Tuesday night, November 5th.
College Football Playoff Rankings
- Oregon (9-0) | Projected No. 1 seed
- Ohio State (7-1) | Projected No. 5 seed
- Georgia (7-1) | Projected No. 2 seed
- Miami (FL) (9-0) | Projected No. 3 seed
- Texas (7-1) | Projected No. 6 seed
- Penn State (7-1) | Projected No. 7 seed
- Tennessee (7-1) | Projected No. 8 seed
- Indiana (9-0) | Projected No. 9 seed
- BYU (8-0) | Projected No. 4 seed
- Notre Dame (7-1) | Projected No. 10 seed
- Tuscaloosa (6-2) | Projected No. 11 seed
- Boise State (7-1) | Projected No. 12 seed
- SMU (8-1)
- Texas A&M (7-2)
- LSU (6-2)
- Ole Miss (7-2)
- Iowa State (7-1)
- Pitt (7-1)
- Kansas State (7-2)
- Colorado (6-2)
- Washington State (7-1)
- Louisville (6-3)
- Clemson (6-2)
- Missouri (6-2)
- Army West Point (8-0)
This marks Army’s first time ever being included in the College Football Playoff Committee’s top 25. The Oregon Ducks solidified their No. 1 ranking in defeating Ohio State, Illinois, and Boise State. Ohio State slots in at No. 2 with a decisive victory over Penn State in Happy Valley last week. By comparison, Georgia has looked a little uneven at points, from its first-half showing in its defeat to Tuscaloosa to big wins against Kentucky, and Florida gets them that No. 3 spot. Miami follows at No. 4 when they beat Duke, having Texas idle at spot No. 5. Penn State slipped to No. 6 after being in the top five in the previous polling weeks. The CFP expanding to 12 teams means losses by top teams don’t necessarily disqualify a team from being in the playoffs. The race for the national championship is still very underway and can be anybody’s prediction!
We are eager to see how the upcoming games impact teams before the CFP announcement on December 8th, which will state which 12 teams will play for the national championship title!