The first edition of the 2023 College Football Playoff rankings is here, and we have our early glimpse at how the committee stacks up this year’s contenders.
While we’re not expecting this list to stay the same in the slightest as the season goes on, it gives us a nice focus of how the top teams compare to each other at this point in the fall.
Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan (sign-stealing scandal and all) and Florida State comprise of the top four in that order, with plenty of other teams on the outside looking in for one of these coveted spots.
Here are our five main takeaways from these early College Football Playoff rankings.
1. Ohio State gets the top spot over Georgia
At least for now, the College Football Playoff committee feels that the Ohio State Buckeyes have the edge over the Georgia Bulldogs for the top spot in the first rankings.
ESPN’s Rece Davis astutely pointed out that Ohio State’s wins over teams like Notre Dame and Penn State might sway the committee a bit more than Georgia’s group of wins right now.
That doesn’t mean that this is set in stone, far from it. The committee just seemingly prefers the Buckeyes’ victories over the Bulldogs’ at the moment.
However, Ohio State’s annual rivalry game against Michigan will ultimately determine how long the Buckeyes hold onto first place.
2. Washington and Oregon are the first two out
Two Heisman contenders in Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix have plenty to play for as their teams are the first two looking out at the top four in the College Football Playoff.
It’ll likely take one of those teams in the top slipping up for either the Huskies or Ducks to crack the main lineup, but continuing to win and win with style can continue to help these teams’ cases for elite status.
3. Alabama lingers at No. 8
Alabama might not seem like a clear-cut College Football Playoff contender this year, but the Crimson Tide feels destined for a SEC championship battle with Georgia later this fall.
If Alabama can pull off the upset in that title game (should they get there), it’ll either make the committee take a hard look at Nick Saban’s team or potentially knock the SEC out of the top four altogether.
4. USC's lack of defense has cost it
We suppose it shouldn’t be surprising, but the Trojans have absolutely no chance right now at the College Football Playoff.
Two losses will do that to you, but it looks like quarterback Caleb Williams won’t get an opportunity to contend for a national title before he likely declares for the 2024 NFL Draft.
USC has to get serious about its defense if it’s ever going to contend for a top spot with Lincoln Riley at the helm.
5. Undefeated Air Force is ranked!
Hey, Air Force is here!
The undefeated Falcons register at No. 25 on this list, which might not mean anything for the College Football Playoff this year but is just a really cool thing to point out.
Did you expect Air Force to show up in the first College Football Playoff list this fall over, like, Texas A&M at the beginning of the season? We sure didn’t!
