The fourth College Football Playoff rankings were announced last night.
Oregon remained number one , but the projected playoff field changed, starting in the top five. No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 Notre Dame made up the top four spots.
But under the format, No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Texas, No. 8 SMU and No. 10 Boise State would earn the four byes as the four highest-ranked conference champions.
The final rankings will be announced Sunday at Noon following the Conference Championship games on Friday and Saturday.
Top four seeds
1 seed – No. 1 Oregon
2 seed – No. 2 Texas
3 seed – No. 8 SMU
4 seed – No. 10 Boise State
Oregon and Texas stay put as the top two seeds after both teams won last week. However, SMU replaces Miami as the highest-ranked ACC team, earning the No. 3 seed after the Hurricanes lost. Boise State holds steady as the fourth seed, projected over the highest-ranked Big 12 team, Arizona State.
First round games
(12 seed) No. 15 Arizona State at (5 seed) No. 3 Penn State
(11 seed) No. 11 Alabama at (6 seed) No. 4 Notre Dame
(10 seed) No. 9 Indiana at (7 seed) No. 5 Georgia
(9 seed) No. 7 Tennessee at (8 seed) No. 6 Ohio State
This is the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The four highest-ranked conference champions receive the top four seeds, with the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion also being guaranteed a playoff spot.
Home teams
Even after Ohio State lost to Michigan, it’ll likely still get a home game in the playoff after being ranked No. 6 this week. The Buckeyes are ahead of No. 7 Tennessee and neither team will play in a conference championship game this weekend. Similarly, Notre Dame is likely locked in as a home team in the first round at No. 4 with its season concluded.
However, all hope is not lost for the Volunteers hoping to host a CFP game in Rocky Top. Two conference championship games feature top-five teams. If a Penn State or Georgia team loses, there’s potential that Tennessee could move up the seed line.
