The College Football Playoff commitee has spoken for a second time.
It's loving Georgia and Alabama, pretty hot on the SEC in general, warming to the Big 12, and ice cold toward the ACC.
Oregon and Notre Dame were among the biggest climbers in this week's CFP rankings. Mississippi, Ohio State and LSU became the biggest fallers, but Indiana notably dropped
five spots during an open date for the Hoosiers.On this edition of “College Football Unfiltered,” a USA TODAY Sports podcast presented by Sports Seriously, host Blake Toppmeyer and CFB insider John Brice debate what the committee got right and what it got wrong in these rankings.
That includes a discussion of the most overrated and underrated teams, plus debate on whether the committee is off
the mark in the Alabama/Tennessee comparison. They also highlight one team from the SEC and one team from the Big Ten that would be in great shape to qualify for the bracket at 9-3. No 9-3 team has ever qualified for the playoff.
Which teams are most overrated, underated in CFP rankings
Most overrated teams
No. 9 Indiana (Brice): I had the Hoosiers as most overrated last week, and I’m not pivoting off that stance, even after the committee dropped Indiana five spots. If the Hoosiers beat Southern Cal this weekend, I’ll start singing a different tune. For now, the resume just isn’t there. Neither is the eye test when the Hoosiers are on offense. If Indiana can drop five spots without playing, how much would it fall after a home loss to USC? Enough that it wouldn’t be in next week’s bracket.
No. 12 Texas Tech (Toppmeyer): The Red Raiders’ strength of schedule is awful, and their once-feared defense just surrendered 48 points to West Virginia. This team looks soft. What justification is there to rank Texas Tech this high? Texas Tech’s 28-26 win against Houston is doing a lot of work for its resume. Frankly, I’m not sure why either of those teams are ranked in the top 15.
No. 7 Miami (Brice): The Hurricanes were in danger of getting run out of the stadium at Notre Dame. It trailed for almost the entire game. Malachi Toney’s injury certainly affects Miami. The Hurricanes badly need him back. The committee is down on the entire ACC this side of Miami, and the "U." should feel fortunate it’s not ranked lower than it is.
Most underrated teams
No. 24 Boise State (Toppmeyer): The committee is giving no love to the Group of Six. That includes the disrespect for Boise State, an 8-1 team. The Broncos' only loss was a 34-27 result at Oregon in the season opener. The committee now values the Ducks enough to slot them at No. 16. Mind you, Oregon had Dante Moore for that game against Boise State, too, and now Moore is out. Boise State’s eight-game win streak and toe-to-toe battle with Oregon merit a top-20 ranking. (Maybe, the Group of Six needs its own playoff, but that's another debate.)
Unranked New Mexico (Brice): It’s a sham the 8-1 Lobos are not in the top 25. They’re surrendering fewer than 11 points per game. In 36 quarters of football, they’ve allowed just 11 touchdowns. That’s not worthy of a spot in these rankings? I’m not telling you I want New Mexico in the field of 12, but in next year’s field of 24, I’d want them in. And in the top 25, give New Mexico some love.
Where to listen to College Football Unfiltered
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' "College Football Unfiltered" podcast, hosted by columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream episodes on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts, Spotify or iHeart. Cohosts Matt Hayes, Paul Myerberg and John Brice cover college football for USA TODAY Sports.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What the CFP rankings got wrong about Indiana, Miami
