CFP Reaction: Alabama Feels the Love at No. 3 as Indiana Falls
Alabama sits third in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, while undefeated Indiana dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 during a bye week. Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek cited Alabama’s schedule and Indiana’s opponents’ losses as factors behind the placements.
CFP chairman Hunter Yurachek said the committee viewed Alabama’s schedule as stronger as the two-loss team ranked No. 3 ahead of undefeated Indiana, which fell to No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The cfp reaction alabama feels centers on that contrast, alongside questions about the SEC and Big Ten placements.
Georgia moved to No. 1 after Miami, previously ranked first, took its first loss of the season and dropped to No. 7. The latest rankings also place Texas at No. 6, Tennessee at No. 8 and Kentucky at No. 11, giving the SEC five teams in the top 12.
Alabama ranked ahead of Tennessee
Tennessee beat Alabama by 16 points last month, but the committee ranked the Crimson Tide at No. 3 and the Volunteers at No. 8. Yurachek said Alabama had been part of the committee’s initial group of teams under consideration, while Tennessee had not.
“If you look at their schedule compared to Alabama's schedule, the committee feels like Alabama has a stronger schedule,” Yurachek said.
The rankings have also left questions about teams outside the top 12. No. 19 Ole Miss has wins over two top-25 opponents, but losses to Georgia and Florida, along with a close defeat against Texas, have left its playoff chances in doubt.
Ole Miss still has a trip to Oklahoma, followed by games against Wofford and Mississippi State. No. 21 LSU is also holding onto playoff hopes after losing to Alabama. Its remaining schedule includes Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Indiana drops during its bye week
Indiana fell five places, from No. 4 to No. 9, despite being idle. Teams the Hoosiers had beaten during the season lost over the weekend, weakening the case built on those results.
“Indiana was probably victim of having a bye-week at the wrong time ... Every team that they had played within the Big Ten lost,” Yurachek said.
The ranking raises further questions about the Big Ten’s playoff representation. No. 20 Ohio State took a hit after losing to Oregon, now ranked No. 16. No. 18 USC is due to visit Indiana this weekend, while undefeated No. 4 UCLA faces Illinois on Friday night.
UCLA’s strength of schedule could affect its playoff chances if it loses to Illinois, and the Bruins also have a game against USC to close the regular season.
