The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff has been deemed a success, with more regular-season games carrying stakes, new faces in the field, and electrifying first-round games on campus. The field for the playoff appears wide open, leading to excitement among fans and analysts alike.
While there may be some disagreements with the seeding of teams, the overall makeup of the bracket has been widely praised. SMU’s inclusion over Alabama has been justified based on the importance of conference championships in the current system. The committee’s choices have largely aligned with the rankings of experts, rewarding conference championship game winners and showing a slight preference for dominant wins over top-25 opponents.
In this week’s edition of the Athletic 134 rankings, there have been some shifts in the top 10, with Georgia moving up to No. 2 after a victory against Texas. Boise State and Arizona State have also risen in the rankings due to impressive championship wins. Clemson’s last-second win against SMU has propelled them to No. 16, but they remain behind South Carolina due to a previous loss.
Overall, the rankings reflect a balance of rewarding strong performances and conference championship victories while also considering losses against quality opponents. The college football community is eagerly anticipating the upcoming postseason games and the crowning of a national champion.
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