There's been countless hours, days, weeks and months trying to make sense of how the College Football Playoff committee would analyze this crazy season that has seen consistent inconsistency and strange results that have left just three teams unbeaten and six others among the Power Four with one defeat.
We now have a clearer picture with the first rankings release Tuesday, Nov. 3 that offers insight of how the final five weeks might impact projections of what the 12-team field will look like.
Miami — one of those three unbeatens left standing — occupies the top spot, though the Hurricanes survived an overtime game against Florida State and a close shave at North Carolina last month. While starting at No. 1 has its advantages, just one of the last five
teams ranked first in the opening rankings have earned the top seed. A change at the top could come as soon as next week with Miami headed Saturday to Notre Dame.
Georgia slots in at No. 2 with its impressive run through the SEC only being blemished by a strange home loss to Auburn that knocked the Bulldogs from the top spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
The remain two unbeatens - Utah and UCLA - are at No. 3 and No. 8, respectively. Neither the Utes nor the Bruins have an impressive schedule strength, but each will face tests in the final month, starting with Utah getting a visit from rival Brigham Young.
Speaking of the Cougars, they earned the No. 9 ranking, helped by their defeat of Notre Dame which was offset by their lone loss at Central Florida.
No. 4 is Indiana, and rounding out the top 10 are No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas and No. 10 Mississippi, four teams from the SEC.
Not in that top 10 are No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 12 Ohio State, two teams higher in the polls than the eyes of the committee. The Fighting Irish lack a quality win, while the Buckeyes struggled in a loss to Southern California without starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
One of the 12 spots in the field is reserved for the highest-rated champion from the Group of Six conferences. Boise State is the lone representative from that group at No. 25.
This is the first of five committee rankings that will be unveiled on successive Tuesdays through Dec. 1. The final release will comes Dec. 6 on Selection Sunday when the 12 teams in the field and the playoff bracket is announced.
The College Football Playoff will start on Friday, Dec. 18 and Saturday, Dec. 19 with four first-round games on campus sites. Quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, and the semifinals are set for Jan. 14 and Jan. 15. The College Football Playoff championship game will be played Monday, Jan. 26 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
First CFP rankings full Top 25
1. Miami (8-0)2. Georgia (7-1)3. Utah (8-0)4. Indiana (8-1)5. Alabama (6-2)6. Kentucky (7-1)7. Texas (6-2)8. UCLA (8-0)9. Brigham Young (7-1)10. Mississippi (6-2)11. Notre Dame (7-1) 12. Ohio State (6-2)13. Tennessee (6-2) 14. LSU (6-2)15. Texas Tech (7-1)16. Wake Forest (7-1)17. Houston (6-2)18. Missouri (6-2)19. Iowa (6-2) 20. Southern California (7-2)21. South Carolina (5-3)22. Arizona (6-2)23. Oregon (5-3) 24. Florida (5-3) 25. Boise State (7-1)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First CFP rankings deliver surprises and clues for chaotic playoff race
