January 1, Playoff Shock as Ohio State Grabs Top Spot

Wyatt’s Take

• Ohio State leads the first College Football Playoff rankings.
• Indiana’s unexpected rise as No. 2 stirs excitement.
• SEC and Big Ten dominate the top positions, shaking things up.

The first College Football Playoff rankings are here, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are out front. They’ve started strong at 8-0 and look like the team to beat after winning last year’s championship over Notre Dame.

No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers are turning heads, charging through with a perfect 9-0 record under coach Curt Cignetti. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is now in the Heisman conversation.

The next two spots go to Texas A&M and Alabama, who round out the top four and grab a first-round bye. Georgia and Ole Miss at five and six keep the SEC well-represented in these new standings.

BYU holds firm at No. 7, leading the Big 12 without a loss. Also in the top ten: Texas Tech, Oregon, and Notre Dame, who has bounced back with six straight wins after dropping its first two games to Texas A&M and Miami.

Miami’s drop in the rankings follows a tough overtime loss to SMU. Texas Longhorns, led by Arch Manning, sit at No. 11 after beating Vanderbilt, and Oklahoma Sooners are just behind at No. 12.

Virginia, leaders in the ACC, land at No. 14, ensuring each Power Four conference is represented in the playoff. Memphis leads the Group of Five but faces a tougher road with all top 25 teams coming from the major conferences.

This season, the committee is using a full seeding system. The top four teams, regardless of conference, grab first-round byes—a big change from past years.

If the rankings hold, games would see Memphis up against Georgia, Virginia battling Ole Miss, Notre Dame visiting BYU, and Oregon matching up with Texas Tech. All eyes are on Dec. 7, when the final bracket is set after conference titles are claimed.

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Wyatt Matters

College football’s new playoff format means more chances for hard-working teams from across the country. Heartland fans know every win counts when it comes time to crown a champion.