Oh, is there a whole lot to talk about with the first round of College Football Playoff rankings, with Notre Dame at 11, Alabama up at No. 5, Indiana checking in at No. 4, Ohio State at No. 12, Tennessee at No. 13, and on and on and on, and … for the most part, the rankings aren’t that horrible. Who’s overrated, who’s underrated, and what matters about the poll? Here are our five thoughts.
Indiana at No. 4
Remember, above all else, the College Football Playoff committee record ranks. Indiana is 8-1, but it’s eight spots ahead of Ohio State, and the best win is against … Northwestern? With that said, to be fair, the Hoosiers did beat the Wildcats, and Minnesota, and Michigan, and came within a toe-tap of beating Ohio State. (The ranking isn’t that awful, but it’s a tad high.)
Alabama at No. 5
May you someday know the love and affection that the College Football Playoff committee historically shows to Alabama. The loss to Georgia was fine, but being eight spots ahead of a Tennessee team that won 26-10 is a problem. Beating Kentucky and South Carolina big mattered, though.
Notre Dame at No. 11
Irish fans, as the man said, R-E-L-A-X. Miami was 18 last year in the Week 11 CFP rankings a...