The much-anticipated first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season have arrived, shedding light on which teams are currently in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth. With just one month remaining in the regular season, the race for those coveted top 12 spots is heating up. Let’s dive into the initial rankings, dissect the paths for top contenders, and explore the biggest games left that will ultimately determine this year’s playoff field.
Oregon Leads the Pack, SEC and Big Ten Dominate Top 10
To little surprise, the unbeaten Oregon Ducks claimed the No. 1 position in the CFP committee’s initial rankings. Oregon boasts wins over current No. 2 Ohio State and the defending national champions, cementing their status as the team to beat. The always rugged SEC placed three teams in the top 10 with Georgia at No. 3, Texas at No. 5, and Tennessee at No. 7. The Big Ten also flexed its muscles, landing Ohio State at No. 2, Penn State at No. 6, and surprising upstart Indiana at No. 8 on the strength of its 9-0 start.
The Miami Hurricanes, leaders of the ACC, crashed the party at No. 4 and remain very much alive for a playoff spot. Rounding out the all-important top 12 are a mix of power conference stalwarts and ambitious outsiders, including No. 9 BYU, No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 11 Alabama, and No. 12 Boise State. The real intrigue lies in how this order will inevitably shift over the pressure-packed weeks ahead.
SEC: Dawgs in Front, But Don’t Count Out the Horns
Georgia’s road win over Texas in September gives them a leg up, but the Bulldogs still have to navigate a daunting schedule that includes dates with No. 4 Ole Miss and No. 10 Tennessee. Texas, on the other hand, faces a less treacherous path. Their season finale against No. 13 Texas A&M is shaping up to be the conference’s game of the year.
Where things get intriguing is if Georgia and Texas both win out to force a rematch in the SEC title game. A Texas win there, coupled with their friendlier remaining schedule, could see them leapfrog into a top four and possibly even No. 1 seed.
– A person with knowledge of the CFP selection process
Big Ten: Ohio State Stalking, Indiana Dreaming
Ohio State’s path to a playoff spot runs through No. 8 Indiana in late November. Win out, and the Buckeyes can book their ticket. For Indiana, even at 9-0 they likely need to topple Ohio State to have a realistic shot—and might still need some chaos elsewhere. Their No. 8 CFP ranking indicates the committee isn’t fully buying in just yet, fair or not.
ACC: Miami’s to Lose
At No. 4, Miami is well-positioned to claim the ACC crown and playoff bid that comes with it. The Hurricanes should be solid favorites in their remaining games. Keep an eye on No. 13 SMU, though, as a dangerous conference title game foe.
Big 12 and Beyond: Welcome to the Wild West
The Big 12 looks like a two-horse race between No. 9 BYU and No. 17 Iowa State, though Kansas State and resurgent Colorado lurk as spoilers. A one-loss champion should feel good about their playoff prospects. Any other league looking to crash the party needs its champion to go unbeaten.
Buckle up for a furious four-week sprint to the finish. Every game takes on a magnified importance with seasons, legacies, and millions of dollars in playoff berth on the line. By this time next month, the fog will have cleared and we’ll know which fortunate dozen have extended their campaigns into the postseason. The only certainty is to expect the unexpected—and savor the drama while we have it.
