College Football World Reacts to Penultimate Playoff Rankings

The top four is set ahead of conference championship weekend, sparking plenty of debate before the final playoff field is set.

The College Football Playoff committee unveiled its weekly rankings update on Tuesday, revealing a new top four ahead of championship weekend.

Michigan’s win over Ohio State knocked the Buckeyes from No. 2 to No. 5, opening up a spot for USC to rise to No. 4. Georgia remained at No. 1 while unbeaten TCU stayed at No. 3, with all four current playoff teams set to play in their respective conference championship games this weekend.

The new rankings set off a lively discussion on social media, which largely centered around the idea that the current top four should be locked in regardless of this weekend’s results. None of the teams ranked from No. 5 to No. 8 (in order: Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee and Penn State) qualified for their conference’s title games, while No. 9 Clemson has two losses and No. 10 Kansas State has three.

That led many to assert that the playoff field should already be set, as the top four shouldn’t be punished for playing an extra game compared to the teams who are currently best positioned to replace them. This is particularly true of the top three—who are all unbeaten—while USC is the only team in the top four with one loss.

Watch Selection Sunday: December streaming guide.

Should Ohio State or Alabama jump into the playoff field if there are any upsets this weekend? Here’s a sample of some takes from both sides of the argument, along with more playoff reactions.

Heading into the penultimate CFP rankings, here’s why this week’s games are a disservice to the playoff contenders. And also the three big remaining CFP questions. https://t.co/olzb3IHNSF

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 29, 2022

i promise we can have a playoff without alabama. the country will survive. https://t.co/78QP566FXv

— emily leiker (@emleiker) November 30, 2022

1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. TCU 4. USC. That’s the committee’s opinion after 12 weeks, thus the field should be set. If no one can play in this weekend, then no one should be able to play their way out. It’s the only logical, rational argument. https://t.co/GleqE8TT4c

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) November 30, 2022

Tonight is a good example of why I can't believe anyone ever agrees to be the CFP committee chairman.

— David Ubben (@davidubben) November 30, 2022

Two teams have earned a playoff spot without playing championship weekend.

Ohio State in 2016 was No. 2 going into the champ weekend and No. 3 coming out w/o playing.

Alabama in 2017 was the only team to move into the final 4 w/o playing going from 5 to 4.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) November 30, 2022

Based on its own criteria, there’s no way the CFP should’ve ranked Alabama ahead of Tennessee. Reputation from past accomplishments is literally the only thing Bama had in its favor in this debate.

— Stephen Hargis 🇺🇸 (@StephenHargis) November 30, 2022

I listened to @DanWetzel podcast this morning, and I gotta say -- solid argument.

He says the Top 4 should already be set. Why should USC, if it loses in a conference championship game, fall behind Ohio State b/c Ohio State didn't reach a conference championship game?

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 28, 2022

The results of this weekend shouldn’t matter. This should be our Final 4 pic.twitter.com/UhmdW16Efh

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 30, 2022

• More CFB: How a 12-Team Playoff Would Look After CFB’s Week 13
• USC, Ohio State Make College Football Playoff Rankings Top Five
• Stanford Band Apologizes for Offensive Halftime Skit vs. BYU
• Fox’s Brady Quinn Takes Nasty Shot at ESPN’s Booger McFarland