How the College Football Playoff rankings should look after Week 1

After a big Saturday of Week One action, here’s how the College Football Playoff is projected to stand. Who’s in and who misses the cut?

The majority of Week One of the college football season is in the books. The first week brought plenty of exciting games, another Alabama demolition, and a hoss fight between Clemson and Georgia in Charlotte.

While Notre Dame won’t take the field until it visits Florida State on Sunday, it’s never too early to start looking at projected College Football Rankings. The real ones still don’t come out for weeks, but projection is everything in life. Having two top-five teams square off in the opening week really allowed for it to be analyzed more than it probably should be at this point.

Here’s how the projected top four for the College Football Playoff plus the cut line should shake out.

Projected College Football Playoff rankings after Week 1

1. Alabama is the clear-cut best team in the nation

There should be absolutely zero surprise that Alabama exits Week One as the top team in the country. The defending National Champions beat down No. 14 Miami 44-13 in Atlanta. Bryce Young looked like a star as he takes over the keys to the offense. The defense was stifling and it’s clear the top dogs are still the top dogs.

2. Georgia’s defense was suffocating against Clemson

It was a dominant show for Georgia against Clemson. The defense came to play as they beat number-three Clemson in an impressive showing. Georgia assuredly should make the jump over Oklahoma by virtue of beating a top-five opponent and the Sooners struggling to take down Tulane in Norman. They’ll also move over Ohio State because of the quality win.

3. Ohio State started slowly vs. Minnesota but finished strong

It’s a projection so why not have a second team jump Oklahoma. Ohio State struggled to put down Minnesota on the road, but once they got rolling it was a quality conference win for the Buckeyes. Minnesota was the right team to push them to kick off the season and it could be the boost the Buckeyes need as they surround C.J. Stroud with weapons.

4. Oklahoma took their foot off the gas vs. Tulane but eked out a win

In fairness to Oklahoma, they did pick up the win over Tulane. They still belong in the top four even if they were being pushed a bit. Clemson and Ohio State just showed a bit more in their wins. The Sooners mustered just three points in the second half of their 40-35 win and that’s something they will need to fix. Getting Western Carolina next should help.

First 2 out of the College Football Playoff

5. Clemson is out for now but can run the table to get back in

It’s hard to punish the Tigers too much for a hard-fought loss to Georgia. They will drop in the rankings but it will be right on the outside looking. They’re still very much alive in the College Football Playoff discussion and could very well be in the top four much sooner rather than later.

6. Texas A&M wishes the playoff would expand this year

The Aggies are right on the cusp of the bubble. Texas A&M took care of business against Kent State in not much of a shocker despite a relatively unmemorable game, which leaves them ready to move up should anyone fall. The Aggies have some interesting opportunities to take advantage of teams coming up with games against Colorado and New Mexico. Depending on how Notre Dame looks in their opener on Sunday night, the Fighting Irish could find themselves just outside the top four.

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