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CFB media reacts to College Football Playoff rankings for Week 13

ByCody Williams|
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans celebrates after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans celebrates after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the game at Rose Bowl on November 19, 2022 in Pasadena, California. The USC Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins with a score of 48 to 45. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Week 13 College Football Playoff rankings have been released after losses from Tennessee and other close calls and CFB media had plenty of thoughts.

It was pandemonium throughout the sport on Saturday, despite the slate not looking all that appetizing coming into the week. But every one of the Top 4 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings found themselves in a tussle, though Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and TCU all escaped.

Tennessee, however, was not so lucky. Looking to get their mojo back, the porous defense picked the worst time to pop back up as South Carolina hung 60+ on the Vols and Tennessee’s chances of making it into the Playoff came to a close.

Meanwhile, that loss opened the door for both USC and Clemson to potentially still have a clearer path into the Top 4. The Trojans did themselves a massive favor as Caleb Williams led the charge to a phenomenal win over UCLA in a thriller. The Tigers also kept themselves alive with a win, the same of which is true of the LSU Tigers.

After all of this, though, the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings of the regular season seemed like they could set the stage for some chaos.

College Football Playoff rankings: Top 25 in Week 13

  1. Georgia Bulldogs
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes
  3. Michigan Wolverines
  4. TCU Horned Frogs
  5. LSU Tigers
  6. USC Trojans
  7. Alabama Crimson Tide
  8. Clemson Tigers
  9. Oregon Ducks
  10. Tennessee Volunteers
  11. Penn State Nittany Lions
  12. Kansas State Wildcats
  13. Washington Huskies
  14. Utah Utes
  15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
  16. Florida State Seminoles
  17. North Carolina Tar Heels
  18. UCLA Bruins
  19. Tulane Green Wave
  20. Ole Miss Rebels
  21. Oregon State Beavers
  22. UCF Knights
  23. Texas Longhorns
  24. Cincinnati Bearcats
  25. Louisville Cardinals

Perhaps the biggest shock of the new CFP rankings was Alabama still being ranked ahead of Clemson. While the Tigers have a path to the Playoff, the Crimson Tide seemingly doesn’t have such a thing. As such, it feels mighty arbitrary for the committee to put Bama ahead of Clemson.

Beyond that, Tennessee was probably lucky to not drop outside of the Top 10 but North Carolina was punished with a big drop after the Tar Heels lost shockingly to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Meanwhile, Notre Dame rose up the rankings again, thus setting USC up for another potential signature win to boost their resumé.

College football media reactions to 2022 CFP rankings in Week 13

With some controversial choices and big movement, college football media members offered some thoughts.

With rivalry week and conference championships still on the schedule, so much can still change. One of Ohio State or Michigan is going to lose as they face off on Saturday in The Game. USC can get a quality win. Georgia and LSU will play in the SEC Championship Game.

Nothing is settled, but we have another batch of College Football Playoff rankings to get things rolling.

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