Clemson, LSU are biggest surprises in College Football Playoff Rankings

The first College Football Playoff Rankings were released for the 2022 season and here are the three biggest surprises. 

You never know what to expect from the College Football Playoff Rankings and in the first batch released by the selection committee on Tuesday night, there were certainly some surprises.

Most college football pundits had the field as Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State in some order. A few others had Clemson and TCU in their top four as the other unbeaten teams in the Power 5.

Most folks had Georgia as their No. 1 team and while it will be decided on the field Saturday, the Bulldogs entered the initial College Football Playoff Rankings at No. 3.

Tennessee is the No. 1 team followed by Ohio State, UGA, and Clemson. Michigan is ranked fifth followed by Alabama, TCU, and Oregon.

Here are the three biggest surprises from the College Football Playoff rankings after Week 9.

Georgia at No. 3

I understand why the committee went with Tennessee, especially considering that LSU is ranked 10th overall, but I don’t see any reason for it really. Yes, Tennessee’s win over Alabama is really good but Georgia dominated the No. 8 team by 46 points and hasn’t been really challenged.

Tennessee had close calls against Pittsburgh and Florida at home. The Vols dominated LSU and it was on the road so I guess that’s justifiable if you think LSU deserves to be ranked 10th.

As with the debate between Clemson and Michigan, it won’t matter because it’s not really a debate to be worried about. If the Wolverines win the Big Ten, they are going to the playoff and the same can be said for Clemson. Both teams just need to keep winning.

The respect for the ACC is a little weird

Clemson was ranked ahead of Michigan on the strength of three wins over ACC teams that are ranked 20-22 in Syracuse, NC State, and Wake Forest.

The only problem with that is I’m not sure if any of those teams are any good. NC State has been struggling without Devin Leary and lost on the road to Syracuse, who actually led Clemson by 11 points before losing and then got blown out at home by Notre Dame last week.

Wake Forest also got blown out by Louisville and the Demon Deacons took Clemson to overtime. Michigan’s best wins are at home and also has much better game control having trailed once in the second half all season.

Still, the Wolverines’ domination of Penn State is more impressive even compared to the win against Wake Forest because Clemson had to rally in both of its best wins against teams that don’t look as good as we once thought. Michigan also beat a six-win Maryland team, as well as Iowa on the road without trouble.

That being said, neither team has to worry about a playoff spot if they keep winning. Clemson might even be able to lose at Notre Dame this weekend and sneak in as a 12-1 ACC champion if there is enough chaos.

I was surprised by the Tigers at No. 4 though and the overall respect for the ACC with five top-25 teams.

LSU can make the playoff as a two-loss team

If you were wondering about two-loss teams having a chance this season, the College Football Playoff Rankings seem to indicate that at least one two-loss team has hope and that’s LSU.

I can’t say I quite understand LSU being ranked 10th. The Tigers lost to a 5-3 Florida State team in what was basically a home game and got beat by 27 at home against Tennessee.

The wins over Florida and Ole Miss were impressive. The committee also probably looks at the Mississippi State win as a quality win.

But think about this — if the Tigers win out, they would win the SEC championship and in that scenario, it’s hard to see them missing the College Football Playoff.

LSU would first need to beat Alabama and if it does that Saturday, at home, then the Tigers have to get through Arkansas, Texas A&M, and UAB before a matchup against either Georgia or Tennessee.

It probably would be better for LSU if Tennessee was the SEC East champ. Then, it could get revenge on the Vols for the win, but either way, LSU winning the SEC title could create a very interesting scenario.

Would the committee choose an 11-1 Tennessee team that lost to Georgia, didn’t win the SEC title but beat LSU, which would be 11-2 and the SEC champion in that scenario?

It’s a tough call. I think if it is 11-2 LSU and 11-1 Georgia, LSU would probably get the nod.  Those are just some scenarios and Alabama could end them all this weekend, but believe it or not, it looks like Brian Kelly’s team has an outside shot at the College Football Playoff.