Instant outrage: Internet reaction to the College Football Playoff top four

The College Football Playoff selection committee released its final top four teams Sunday afternoon. People reacted on Twitter in a measured and completely calm manner.

It was the moment we waited for all season: The College Football Playoff selection committee released its field on Sunday afternoon. As Ohio State jumped up to No. 4, thus leaving TCU and Baylor out of the playoff, all the energy and emotion everyone had been expending to make jokes and discount contenders spilled over. No. 1 Alabama will play No. 4 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, and No. 2 Oregon will play No. 3 Florida State in the Rose Bowl. We have a playoff. We have a bracket. And people were always going to be upset.

Watching events like this unfold in real time is incredible. People actually get upset, and they show it. Others just enjoy the moment.

We've collected some of the afternoon's best tweets. Football is weird and great.

One lonely 'Nole

Before the committee released its rankings, one Florida State fan waited outside the conference room in hopes of -- well, I don't know. But he is likely happy since the Seminoles are ranked No. 3 and drew Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Lone CFB fan who lives in Dallas is hanging out at committee hotel to be here. Imagine if this was in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/ChGwiOB2rO

— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomon35) December 7, 2014

• RICKMAN: Best yet to come for Florida State after perfect record

Tray tables up

SI.com's own Lindsay Schnell had a flight to catch when the official selections were unveiled, and there were plenty of others on the plane who wanted to learn the final field. College football never sleeps.

On our flight from San Jose back to PDX, a group of us have requested the pilot announce the CFP selections. Make it happen, @SouthwestAir.

— Lindsay Schnell (@Lindsay_Schnell) December 7, 2014

Rinaldi Siren

Tom Rinaldi, known for his heart-wrenching stories, was sent to Baylor as ESPN put reporters on various campus sites. We should have known what that meant.  

Tom Rinaldi anticipating Baylor's grief like a hungry wolf eyeing a lamb that strays from the herd.

— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 7, 2014

• STAPLES: With two champs, Big 12 sells playoff chances short

WHO IS KEITH?

Rece Davis dropped a bomb on everyone before we knew the final four: A graphics operator named Keith had the rankings. He was working them up. WHO WAS KEITH? WAS HE GOING TO TRICK US ALL?

ESPN Graphics operator Keith is sweating bullets right now. #CFBPlayoff

— Keri Potts (@MsPotts_ATL) December 7, 2014

Graphics Operator Keith is now trending on twitter. #CFBPlayoff

— Jeramy Michiaels (@JeramyMichiaels) December 7, 2014

Trust the process

There was no doubt heading into Sunday about whether Alabama would be in the playoff. There really wasn't any doubt about whether the Crimson Tide would be No. 1. Nick Saban and his team reacted to the unveil accordingly. I've seen people get more jacked when they get six Wendy's chicken nuggets in a pack of five.

• ​ELLIS: New philosophy, same result: Alabama wins SEC title

And the (consolation) winner is ...

Michigan State fans are quietly some of the best in the nation. The Spartans clearly weren't going to make the playoff, but SB Nation's Michigan State blog put things in a humorous perspective after the top four were announced. 

Worth mentioning that MSU's two losses this season came to the #2 and #4 teams. YAY CONSOLATION FACT.

— The Only Colors (@TheOnlyColors) December 7, 2014

Tweet of the day

Quarterback Bryce Petty's Baylor squad came in at No. 5 and just missed the playoff. Petty was in church during the release, but he was just as curious as the rest of us. I don't think he will have any trouble with that whole forgiveness thing.

And I need to ask for forgiveness bc I was definitely checking Twitter in church haha

— Bryce Petty (@b_petty14) December 7, 2014