Comment They’re singing “Rocky Top” at the top of the College Football Playoff rankings. The rankings, released Tuesday by the CFP’s 13-member selection committee, contained a few mild surprises, starting with Tennessee getting the nod at No. 1. Defending national champion Georgia took the top spot in the latest Associated Press poll , in third place in the CFP ranking. Among the SEC East rivals set to square off Saturday in a titanic showdown was Ohio State. The Buckeyes are tied with the Volunteers for No. 2 in the AP poll. All three teams have 8-0 records. The recognition from the CFP committee represented the latest feather in the cap for Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, who in January 2021 took over a program in relative disarray after three years under former coach Jeremy Pruitt. After a 7-6 finish last season, Heupel has the Volunteers in a position to make the playoffs for the first time, which replaced the Bowl Championship Series in 2014. Before Georgia-Tennessee, this century’s “Games of the Century” ranking Asked on ESPN after Tuesday’s revelation how quickly he envisioned becoming a national championship contender, Heupel replied, “I don’t know that we put a time frame on it, and I think that was one of the things that got our players to buy into they were getting along. We never put a ceiling.” On his expectations for Tuesday, Heupel said, “We didn’t know where we would rank, but we thought we would be somewhere near the top. At the end of the day, one of the things our players have done here is we’ve tried to enjoy the journey. Take moments to stop and think and enjoy what our players have built here. They have made this. “Three years ago, it didn’t look like that,” he continued. “But this is a proud tradition, a huge fan base that loves the Power T and is excited about the way our players play. Accept it.” With Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia widely expected to land in the top three — not necessarily in that order — much of the intrigue heading into Tuesday night’s reveal centered on which program will enter the crucial fourth. position. Ultimately, only the top four will advance to the playoffs to determine the national champion. Breakdown: The College Football Playoff contenders have been narrowed down to, yes, 13 That round went to Clemson, another 8-0 team, ranked fifth in the AP poll. Michigan, which is fourth in this poll, was placed fifth by the committee. Michigan still has a date with Ohio State on its calendar, meaning the Wolverines could have a chance to essentially play in the top four if they beat the Buckeyes, assuming both programs keep winning from now on and their match that will end the regular season. . Alabama, 7-1 after a last-second loss at Tennessee last month, was ranked sixth by the committee. That left TCU, the only other 8-0 team among Power Five programs, in seventh place. Oregon (7-1), Southern California (7-1) and LSU (6-2) rounded out the top 10, in that order. In giving the Volunteers the No. 1 seed, CFP chairman Boo Corrigan told ESPN that their wins over the Crimson Tide and LSU “really sealed the day for Tennessee.” Tennessee is also coming off a 44-6 upset of then No. 19 Kentucky, and it may have helped the Volunteers that they are ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s power poll. Ohio State’s biggest win came against then-No. 13 Penn State on the road last week, and the Buckeyes also boast an early win over Notre Dame. They lead Football Bowl Subdivision teams in average scoring margin (32.0) and are second in points per game at 48.9, just behind Tennessee (49.4). On putting Ohio State ahead of Georgia, Corrigan said, “I think the explosive nature of their Ohio State offense — [quarterback] CJ Stroud, [wide receiver] Marvin Harrison Jr. — the win over Penn State, the way they came back to win that game, again, very close. “Two well-balanced teams, but at the end of the day the committee decided we’re going with Ohio State.” Corrigan, the athletic director at North Carolina State, added that the committee’s decision came from “13 different voices in the room” and noted that some were rooting for Ohio State and Georgia to take the top spot. CFP president Boo Corrigan on TCU, one spot behind Alabama: “We’re looking for a balanced team, offense and defense. They’ve been behind in games.” — Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 1, 2022 Ranked seventh in the AP poll, TCU has beaten four teams ranked in the top 25 at the time — Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas — and its four road wins have all come against strong opponents. Clemson has beaten three teams ranked in the top 25 by the AP and the CFP committee: Syracuse, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. Michigan, which recently swept Michigan State in a matchup that made national headlines for violence that erupted between opposing players in the stadium tunnel after the game ended, knocked off then-No. 10 Penn State last month. In September, the Wolverines beat Maryland, which is now 6-2. Here is the full ranking of the selection committee: 9. Southern California (7-1) 22. North Carolina State (6-2) In addition to Corrigan, the CFP selection committee includes: University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart; University of Wyoming Athletic Director Tom Boorman. University of Colorado Athletic Director Rick George. Naval Academy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk. former coach Jim Grobe; University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel; Former Nebraska offensive lineman and College Football Hall of Famer Will Shields. Kansas State Athletic Director Gene Taylor. Virginia Union University athletics official Joe Taylor. former Penn State offensive lineman John Urschel; Former Notre Dame quarterback Rod West. and sports journalist and Montclair State University associate professor Kelly Whiteside, the only woman on the committee.
