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College Football Playoff: First Rankings Released

Posted on by Bobb
College Football Playoff: First Rankings Released

Big Ten Conference elite programs are at the top college football In November the situation is approaching a critical point.

The first College Football Playoff rankings for the 2024 season were released Tuesday night, showing Oregon and Ohio as the two best teams. The University of Pennsylvania also made the top 10, finishing sixth.

While Big Ten heavyweights kept the conference afloat, the depth of the Southeastern Conference proved its worth, with four teams finishing in the top 12 and a total of eight teams finishing in the top 25. Georgia was ranked No. 3 and conference newcomer Texas was ranked No. 5. Tennessee (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 11) also earned top spots in the CFP rankings under the new 12-team playoff format.

Florida Gators defeat George Gumbs Jr. (34) and pressure Georgia Bulldogs guard Carson Beck (15)

The Florida Gators beat George Gumbs Jr. and pressure Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck during the first half at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, November 2, 2024. / Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Also in the Big Ten, rising star Indiana finished eighth, setting one of three undefeated records in the CFP top 10. BYU’s Big 12 team is also ranked 9th. ACC leader Miami (4th), independent Notre Dame (10th) and Group 5 leader Boise State (12th) round out the top 12 teams.

The top 12 teams in the season’s final College Football Playoff rankings will be included in this year’s 12-team playoff. The top four ranked conference champions will earn a bye to the first round, with the remaining spots filled by the fifth ranked conference champion and the seven remaining top programs. In this week’s rankings, Oregon, Georgia, Miami and BYU will receive first-round byes.

The first round contests will be as follows: Boise State at Ohio State, Alabama at Texas, Notre Dame at Penn State and Indiana at Tennessee.

The remaining top 25 rankings include four ACC teams: No. 13 SMU, No. 18 Pittsburgh, No. 22 Louisville and No. 24 Missouri. The SEC also includes No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 15 LSU and No. 16 Ole Miss stuck in the middle group. and Missouri is at No. 24. The Big 12 also includes No. 17 Iowa State and No. 19 Kansas State. and No. 20 Colorado.

Indiana's Kurtis Rourke throws a pass in the third quarter of a game against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.

Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke throws a pass in the third quarter of a game against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. / Nick King / Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Army, undefeated at 8-0, is ranked 25th. The Black Knights will have to overcome Boise State to become the automatic fifth-highest-ranked conference champion. The army has not yet defeated a ranked enemy. He plays Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium in New York on November 23.

Four first-round games will be played on the home campuses of the higher-seeded teams on Dec. 20-21. Four quarter-final matches will take place in the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Cups from December 31 to January. 1.

Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken celebrates with his players after a 20-3 victory over the Air Force Falcons.

November 2, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken celebrates with his players after a 20-3 victory over the Air Force Falcons at Michie Stadium. / Danny Wilde-Imagne Images

The two semifinal games will be played in the Orange and Cotton Bowl on January 9-10. The championship game is scheduled for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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