At long last, the first College Football Playoff selection committee has released its first rankings of the 2024 season and the new 12-team format.
No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Miami and No. 9 BYU are the four highest-ranked conference leaders. If the season ended today, they would have the four first-round byes. No. 12 Boise State would land the fifth automatic bid, while No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Indiana, No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 11 Alabama would earn at-large bids.
Here is the full 12-team bracket, via ESPN:
The committee releases a full Top 25 ranking. SMU, which is undefeated in conference play in its first ACC season, is the first team out of the current playoff picture. Here is the full ranking:
Oregon -- 9-0 (6-0 Big Ten)Ohio State -- 7-1 (4-1 Big Ten)Georgia -- 7-1 (5-1 SEC)Miami -- 9-0 (5-0 ACC)Texas -- 7-1 (3-1 SEC)Penn State -- 7-1 (4-1 Big Ten)Tennessee -- 7-1 (4-1 SEC)Indiana -- 9-0 (6-0 Big Ten)BYU -- 8-0 (5-0 Big 12)Notre Dame -- 7-1Alabama -- 6-2 (3-2 SEC)Boise State -- 7-1 (4-0 Mountain West)SMU -- 8-1 (5-0 ACC)Texas A&M -- 7-2 (5-1 SEC)LSU -- 6-2 (3-1 SEC)Ole Miss -- 7-2 (3-2 SEC)Iowa State -- 7-1 (4-1 Big 12)Pittsburgh -- 7-1 (3-1 ACC)Kansas State -- 7-2 (4-2 Big 12)Colorado -- 6-2 (4-1 Big 12)Washington State -- 7-1Louisville -- 6-3 (4-2 ACC)Clemson -- 6-2 (5-1 ACC)Missouri -- 6-2 (2-2 SEC)Army -- 8-0 (6-0 AAC)
With the College Football Playoff poll out, our weekly examination of the teams that have not played up to their ranking to date.
Disagree with our rankings? Let us know in the comments below.
No. 5 Texas LonghornsAP RankCoaches RankWeek 10Week 11
No. 5
No. 5
Bye
vs. Florida
After its dominant Week 2 win at Michigan, Texas looked the part of a national championship favorite. Fast forward two months, and the Longhorns' résumé doesn't look as impressive as expected.
Michigan has not figured out its quarterback situation, and is set to finish the season around .500. Oklahoma, the No. 18 team in the country at the time of Texas' dominant 34-3 win, is now 1-4 in SEC play. Texas' clear best win came at Vanderbilt, 27-24, though the Commodores (somewhat controversially) did not make the selection committee's first Top 25. In Texas' sole game against a current CFP-ranked team, it was handled by Georgia in Austin 30-15, despite Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck throwing for no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Texas has not looked as crisp since the injury to quarterback Quinn Ewers in September. Since his return, he's thrown for 232.7 yards per game, with six touchdowns and four interceptions. It is certainly possible that he is still working to get to 100%, and this week's bye was a blessing. Saturday's game against Florida will be a good test. While the Gators are still fighting for bowl eligibility against one of the most difficult schedules in the country, they've been far more competitive, although the injury status of Florida QB DJ Lagway looms large.
No. 6 Penn State Nittany LionsAP RankCoaches RankWeek 10Week 11
No. 6
No. 6
L vs. Ohio State (20-13)
vs. Washington
Like Texas, Penn State's early-season résumé hasn't held up quite as well as it looked early on. West Virginia, which the Nittany Lions beat in Week 1, has fallen into the middle of the Big 12. Illinois has come back to the pack since PSU's 21-7 win against the Fighting Illini. Last week's Ohio State game was the only one that PSU has played against a team currently ranked in the CFP Top 25.
While the final score was close, Ohio State's defensive dominance calls the effectiveness of Penn State's offense into real question. The Nittany Lions offense failed to find the end zone, scoring just two field goals along with a defensive interception for touchdown. The passing game managed just 150 yards and an interception, and while the Nittany Lions managed 120 yards on the ground, their two star running backs, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, were held to 39 yards on 18 carries.
Tyler Warren is one of the most dangerous tight ends in the country but Penn State doesn't have a proven weapon at wide receiver. Quarterback Drew Allar has taken steps forward this year, but the offense still struggles to generate big plays down the field.
Penn State has a manageable schedule down the stretch, with games against Washington, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland, but No. 6 feels too strong for James Franklin's team, which has struggled against top competition for most of his tenure in Happy Valley, especially ahead of BYU, which has a stronger résumé, and Indiana, which is undefeated and much more dominant in conference play.
No. 24 Missouri TigersAP RankCoaches RankWeek 10Week 11
NR (26)
No. 22
Bye
vs. Oklahoma
Missouri entered the season with high expectations, and has failed to live up to them in the biggest moments so far. The Tigers have a point differential of -52 in games against Power 4 opponents this season, beating Boston College, Vanderbilt and Auburn by a total of 13 points and losing to Texas A&M 41-10 and Alabama 34-0.
Injury issues have contributed to Mizzou's struggles in recent weeks, but not enough to meaningfully change either of its two losses, in which it was thoroughly outclassed by better SEC programs. That includes its most recent game against Alabama, a team that had been struggling offensively before putting up 486 yards on the Tigers.
By SEC standards, Missouri has a workable end to the season. It should have a strong chance to win at least three of its final four games -- vs. Oklahoma next week, at Mississippi State on Nov. 23 and vs. Arkansas on Nov. 30. It will need to sweep those three and win on the road against a tough South Carolina team, one that has been far more impressive in recent weeks, on Nov. 16 to have any chance of getting into the 12-team mix. Even if Missouri does win all four games, it may very likely finish its season without a win over a team ranked in the CFP Top 25.
Related: College Football Rankings: Athlon Sports Top 25 (After Week 10)
Related: College Football Playoff 12-Team Projections After Week 10