College Football Playoff Rankings 2018: Selection Sunday Top 25 projections
By Zach Bigalke
24. team. 2391. . (10-2). Previous: . Appalachian State Mountaineers
The College Football Playoff selection committee is going to reward a solid Appalachian State team with one of the last spots in the final Top 25 rankings of 2018 on Selection Sunday. The Mountaineers won the inaugural Sun Belt championship game on Saturday afternoon, as they took down Louisiana 30-19 for the crown.
Appalachian State’s defense has proven itself especially strong in the red zone. Entering the Sun Belt championship, the Mountaineers ranked 25th nationally in red zone defense. Against the Ragin’ Cajuns, they forced four field goals in the red zone as Louisiana struggled to complete drives inside the 20. Zac Thomas has also developed into a solid contributor with both his arm and his legs at quarterback.
The Mountaineers know where they are headed this bowl season, as they are already locked in to a trip to the New Orleans Bowl as the Sun Belt champions. Earning the New Year’s Six spot reserved for Group of Five teams is out of reach for Scott Satterfield’s crew, but the league winners will be ranked heading into their postseason showdown.