Week 1: Playoff Rankings

Our favorite time of year is the start of the College Football Playoff rankings! Like in previous years, we polled together and came up with our own staff list for the top 6 teams ahead of the committee’s rankings.

This football season has been exciting and we have already seen a lot of upsets. Based on the first 9 weeks, there seems to be a consensus that Ohio State, Tennessee and Georgia are the three best teams in the country, and the AP and Coaches Poll shows there is a gap between those 3 and the next 3 teams. This weekend will be a huge week for clarifying some of the teams who will make it to the end of the season as potential contenders, none more impactful than the Tennessee vs Georgia game this week, which the winner of that game will take control of the SEC East, and has a clearer path to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. On the other side of the conference, LSU and Alabama are at the top of the SEC West, and the winner of that game could be the front runner for the West, with Ole Miss in the mix as well, who will play Alabama next week. 

The 12 teams that have a chance for the playoff still are Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, Clemson, TCU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Illinois(!!). 

How We Voted

Buckeye50 Playoff Poll – 

1. Ohio State takes the top spot in the first poll, by a narrow margin, and I think it will be overtaken next week after the results of the Georgia vs Tennessee game. The Buckeyes though have been the most complete team in the country, ranking in the top 6 in both total offense, and total defense, a huge step up from last year on the defensive side, and they are the only team in the country that has won every game by double digits. They will take on an overmatched Northwestern this week, and ultimately should be undefeated leading up to The Game on November 26th. 

2. Tennessee has been this years Cinderella team, and drawing comparisons to the 2019 LSU team. Hendon Hooker is up there with CJ Stroud for the Heisman, and this week will be a big week for the Volunteers to solidify their status and position in the SEC with a game against Georgia. They have the most impressive win of the season this year with a last second field goal to beat Alabama at home on October 15. 

3. Georgia has had a few close games this season with Missouri and Kent State, but has still continued to be one of the best teams in the country, and the win in week 1 against Oregon has carried a lot of weight for them. They host Tennessee this week in what could be the biggest game in the SEC next to the SEC Championship, and a win this week will help them jump or solidify their number 1 ranking as the defending national champions. 

4. Michigan is sticking with their identity as a solid defense with a run game behind Blake Corum, and has taken care of business staying undefeated. Their non-conference schedule is their biggest knock, but the name of the game is to win, and the Wolverines have not faltered. Harbaugh is running his offense as if it were his Stanford days, and despite a more dynamic quarterback with JJ McCarthy, they have not played a more vertical passing attack with throws over 10 yards. Their toughest remaining test before The Game is the Illinois game, a team that sits at 7-1 at the moment. 

5. Clemson has one of the better resume’s this year with 3 wins against teams in the current AP top 25, but their resume took a bit of a hit with Wake Forest and Syracuse losing this weekend. DJ Uiagalelei has started to play more consistent, and the Tigers are getting healthy on the defensive side of the ball. They had a bye week this past week, and will travel to South Bend to play a Notre Dame team who is on a 2 game win streak, and confidence after beating a ranked Syracuse on the road. 

6. TCU is carrying the banner for the Big 12, and is the last undefeated team in their conference. They have looked impressive at times, and have won four straight games against ranked teams in Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. Their last 4 games are not easy games, but if they win out and win the Big 12 unblemished, they should be one of the top 4 teams at the end of the season. 

Here is how we voted, lets us know how you predict the rankings will go!  Who is your top 4?