A&M tabbed 4th ahead of UW by CFP Committee
Bobby Petrino’s Louisville team is seventh in the CFP Rankings, so it would like to see Houston and Kentucky perform well before facing those teams later this month.
Published on Wednesday, 11/2/16, at 9:19 a.m. Eastern.
The CFP Committee released its first set of rankings last night and there were certainly a few surprises. Here’s the list before I make a few remarks.
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Michigan
4. Texas A&M
5. Washington
6. Ohio State
7. Louisville
8. Wisconsin
9. Auburn
10. Nebraska
11. Florida
12. Penn State
13. LSU
14. Oklahoma
15. Colorado
16. Utah
17. Baylor
18. Oklahoma State
19. Virginia Tech
20. West Virginia
21. North Carolina
22. Florida State
23. Western Michigan
24. Boise State
25. Washington state
Washington has clearly been punished for its weak schedule to date. Before Chris Petersen’s team won at Utah last week, its opponents had a combined record for an atrocious 11-28 record against FBS foes. Stanford and Utah are the only teams the Huskies have faced with winning records. With that said, UW fans shouldn’t fret. If the Huskies win out and Texas A&M wins out, they will undoubtedly jump ahead of the Aggies.
With twice-beaten Oklahoma at No. 14, it’s clear the Big 12 has no shot at being included in this year’s CFP. Baylor and West Virginia, both of whom took their first defeats this past weekend, are at No. 17 and No. 20, respectively. Oklahoma St., fresh of its 37-20 home win over WVU, has two losses but is at No. 18.
After No. 5 Washington, we don’t have another Pac-12 club until Colorado and Utah come in at No. 15 and No. 16, respectively. Washington St. is No. 25.
Louisville’s narrrow escape at Virginia obviously hurt its status. I have U of L ahead of Ohio St. in this week’s Power Rankings. The SEC has five schools in the Top 13, including Alabama (#1), Texas A&M (#4), Auburn (#9), Florida (#11) and LSU (#13). We should note that Auburn and LSU still get to play Alabama, as will Florida if it wins the East. All the Gators need to do to repeat as SEC East champs is finish 2-1 in their three remaining SEC games: at Arkansas, vs. South Carolina and at LSU.
UF’s strength of schedule will improve in the coming weeks with those three SEC games and its regular-season finale at FSU. UF wants FSU to win out before these schools meet in Tallahassee and it would love for South Carolina and/or Kentucky to have quality showings in their rivalry games against Clemson and Louisville later this month.
