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College football rankings: 3 differences we could see in CFP rankings from AP Top 25

By John Buhler

Tayven Jackson, Tennessee Volunteers. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Tayven Jackson, Tennessee Volunteers. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /
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Brock Bowers, Georgia Bulldogs
Brock Bowers, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

Let’s discuss some differences we could see in the first College Football Playoff rankings from the latest AP Top 25 Poll that just came out ahead of Week 10.

Expect college football rankings enthusiasts across the land to fall to pieces when the first College Football Playoff rankings differ mightily from the latest AP Top 25 Poll.

For the first two-thirds of the college season, the AP Poll has been our guiding light. The coaches cannot be trusted, as they all have agendas and ulterior motives. However, nothing the AP decides will impact who will be making the four-team field at the season’s end, as well as who else will be making up the New Year’s Six. Tuesday is only a few days away, but we still have some thoughts…

While the College Football Playoff rankings could be totally different, we have a new AP Top 25.

College football rankings: AP Top 25 Poll, Week 10

Here is what the Associated Press decided were the 25 best teams in college football for Week 10.

  1. Georgia Bulldogs
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes
  3. Tennessee Volunteers*
  4. Michigan Wolverines
  5. Clemson Tigers
  6. Alabama Crimson Tide
  7. TCU Horned Frogs
  8. Oregon Ducks
  9. USC Trojans
  10. UCLA Bruins
  11. Ole Miss Rebels
  12. Utah Utes
  13. Kansas State Wildcats
  14. Illinois Fighting Illini
  15. LSU Tigers
  16. Penn State Nittany Lions
  17. North Carolina Tar Heels
  18. Oklahoma State Cowboys
  19. Tulane Green Wave
  20. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  21. North Carolina State Wolfpack
  22. Syracuse Orange
  23. Liberty Flames
  24. Oregon State Beavers
  25. UCF Knights

* = Ohio State and Tennessee are tied for second place in the latest AP Top 25 Poll.

Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan and Clemson are the top five with the Buckeyes and the Volunteers tied for second place. They are only 28 points back of Georgia for the first-place spot.

Alabama, TCU, Oregon, USC and UCLA round out the top 10. Ole Miss, Utah, Kansas State, Illinois and LSU are No. 11-15. Penn State, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Tulane and Wake Forest are No. 16-20. North Carolina State, Syracuse, Liberty, Oregon State and UCF round out the top 25.

Now that we’ve seen what the Associated Press believes are the 25 best teams in the country, we must prepare ourselves for what the Selection Committee could decide on Tuesday evening…

College football rankings: 3 differences we could expect between AP and CFP

3. Would it shock you if the Selection Committee forced Texas into the top 25?

Texas might be a mid-tier, 5-3 team in the Big 12, but it is also Texas. Although the Longhorns are not sniffing the College Football Playoff, how shocked would you be, honestly, if they were in the top 25 over a Group of Five team like Liberty or UCF? With Tulane only having one loss and a road win over Kansas State, the Greenies may suffice the Selection Committee’s Group of Five needs.

Admittedly, it is hard to envision a scenario where a three-loss Texas team is ranked higher over two-loss Power Five teams such as Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, Syracuse and Oregon State. However, this is a television show at its very essence, so including Texas into a party it didn’t deserve an invitation to would be incredibly on-brand here. Expect for it to happen.

Even if Texas does not make the initial rankings, the Longhorns will be getting in with a sixth win.

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