The recent College Football Playoff rankings showcased a shift in fortunes, particularly for teams outside the Southeastern Conference (SEC). SMU has successfully positioned itself within the top 12, while Indiana maintained its position at No. 10 despite suffering a significant defeat.
The latest 12-team playoff bracket, unveiled on Tuesday, continued to favor undefeated Oregon, which has held the top position for four consecutive weeks. Notably absent from the rankings were Alabama and Mississippi from the SEC, both of whom experienced their third losses of the season last week.
This shake-up paved the way for SMU to claim the ninth position in the rankings, joining No. 6 Miami and ensuring that the Atlantic Coast Conference boasts two representatives in the playoff bracket. SMU’s head coach, Rhett Lashlee, expressed gratitude for the turn of events, stating that the team’s previous performance needed improvement and some external assistance to gain traction in playoff discussions.
Indiana found itself under the scrutiny of the selection committee following its first loss, a 38-15 setback to No. 2 Ohio State. Despite the defeat, Indiana’s coach, Curt Cignetti, pushed back against any notions that they were undeserving of playoff consideration. The committee ultimately agreed, moving Indiana down just five places rather than imposing a heavier penalty.
In contrast to the treatment of Indiana, the Big 12 Conference faced a harsher reality. The losses of its top two teams, BYU and Colorado, pushed Arizona State into the rankings after their victory over BYU, securing the 12th and final spot as a projected conference champion, reflecting the Big 12’s struggle to maintain relevance in playoff breakthroughs.
Furthermore, Boise State from the Mountain West emerged as a contender, sitting at 11th in the rankings but obtaining the fourth seed in projections for being the fourth-best conference champion. SEC leader Texas currently holds the third spot in the rankings.
Both Alabama and Ole Miss faced notable drops in the rankings, with Alabama losing six spots to land at No. 13 and Ole Miss dropping five to No. 14. While their playoff chances appear slim, the committee may still consider three-loss teams as the season unfolds in the coming weeks.
Other significant rankings include No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Notre Dame, alongside No. 7 Georgia and No. 8 Tennessee. With two more ranking releases scheduled — the next one set for next week, followed by the final ranking on Dec. 8 — teams are gearing up for potential playoff contention, with the playoff matches commencing on Dec. 20.
Key matchups to focus on include Michigan facing No. 2 Ohio State, where a Buckeyes victory would likely set the scene for a rematch against Oregon in the Big Ten championship, possibly leading to another encounter in the playoffs. Meanwhile, No. 3 Texas will take on No. 20 Texas A&M, with the victor heading to the SEC championship showdown against Georgia. Lastly, the Palmetto Bowl between No. 15 South Carolina and No. 12 Clemson lurking as a critical game for CFP consideration.
