3 takeaways from first College Football Playoff rankings

By John Buhler | Oct 31, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) looks to the sidelines for a play call during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators on October 28, 2017 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutus Buckeye celebrates with fans at Ohio Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn Statte 39-38. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

2. Apparently, the win over Penn State in The ‘Shoe meant nothing

Everybody knew that the best game during Week 9 was definitely the one between the No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-0) and the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1). Ohio State mounted a furious comeback to top the Nittany Lions, 39-38. So with that win, everybody knew that Ohio State was definitely going to be in the top four.

Well, that would be a no, as the Selection Committee saw otherwise. Instead, it deemed Ohio State to be the fourth-best one-loss team in the country. Ahead of the Buckeyes were Notre Dame, Clemson and Oklahoma. Somehow, someway, the Buckeyes treaded water to stay at No. 6 after beating the No. 2 team in the country in a major rivalry game.

So what gives? Well, Notre Dame has the best loss in the country, one point at home to No. 1 Georgia. Since that loss, the Fighting Irish have rattled off six straight wins, including two in a row over ranked teams like the USC Trojans and the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Hard to argue Notre Dame out of the top four.

Oklahoma did slaughter the Buckeyes in The ‘Shoe 31-16 back in Week 2. The Sooners’ lone loss is to what looks to be an excellent Iowa State team by a touchdown at home. With the head-to-head tiebreaker in Oklahoma’s favor, you can’t put the Buckeyes over them just yet.

Perhaps the biggest gripe is over Clemson. The ACC isn’t as good as people claim it to be. However, the Tigers are the defending national champions and did beat three top-15 teams in a four-week span: Auburn, Louisville and Virginia Tech. Should the Tigers knock off NC State, then maybe their No. 4 spot can’t even be argued.

Besides the one-point win at home over Penn State, what other win does the committee have to sink teeth into to put the Buckeyes in the top-four? It stinks for the Buckeyes to be No. 6 this week, but they have to make do because of that 15-point loss at home to Baker Mayfield’s Sooners.

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