To absolutely nobody’s surprise, the very first set of rankings from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee featured the four remaining undefeated Power Five teams at the top of their first set of rankings for the 2016 season.
Alabama debuted at No. 1 in the rankings for the first time, mirroring their status in the rest of the national polls and giving them an inside track to repeat as national champions. The Crimson Tide would be slotted in the Peach Bowl semifinal and would play the No. 4 seed -- and the big surprise on Tuesday -- Texas A&M. Alabama won the two team’s meeting earlier this season. Undefeated Washington out of the Pac-12 was No. 5.
Clemson, which is also undefeated and was the top seed last season, were No. 2 and would be set to play in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against No. 3 seed Michigan.
As expected, the Big 12 was left out of the top four in the rankings, with the top team from the league being No. 14 Oklahoma.
No. 23 Western Michigan out of the MAC was the top Group of Five team and would be slotted in the Cotton Bowl if they were to win out and continue to look as impressive as they have this season.
Here is this week’s full College Football Playoff Selection Committee rankings:
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Michigan
- Texas A&M
- Washington
- Ohio State
- Louisville
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Nebraska
- Florida
- Penn State
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- Colorado
- Utah
- Baylor
- Oklahoma State
- Virginia Tech
- West Virginia
- North Carolina
- Florida State
- Western Michigan
- Boise State
- Washington State
