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