Last week, I predicted what the CFP rankings would be for week 12. This week, rather than do predictions, I figured I’d just breakdown the actual rankings. Usually, I’d do this on Tailgate on the Quad, but we recorded early due to the holiday, and I can’t just ignore the rankings.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
They played Charleston Southern last week. Did anyone really expect them to lose or fall anywhere in the rankings? Georgia has the best defense in the country, and they have a good offense.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
It was great to sit down this week with @OhioStateFB's “Big 3” WRs- Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson to talk about the brotherhood they have built and the culture they have established. pic.twitter.com/lL9OoNhEo7
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 20, 2021
Ohio State just decimated the seventh ranked team in the country on the backs of Stroud as well as Earth, Wind, and Fire. They arguably should have been number two sooner, but the committee fixes it this year
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
ALT: Alabama has barely beaten LSU and Arkansas at home after losing to Texas A&M on the road. They are lucky to still be in the top four.
4. Cincinnati Bearcats
https://t.co/wnJx60mRIv pic.twitter.com/v1Du5JbKS6
— Tailgate on the Quad (@QuadTailgate) November 24, 2021
The Cincinnati “UCF’s Revenge” Bearcats have finally done it. After a dominating win against the 6th best offense in the country, they’ve earned it.
5. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan will be here for a week until Ohio State blows the doors off them in “The Game.”
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Apparently execution wasn’t necessary, as Notre Dame has a chance of sneaking into the top four as the season winds down.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
A lot of attention in the Big 12 this season has gone to Texas sucking, Oklahoma struggling, and Baylor beating Oklahoma. In spite of that, the Cowboys have put together a great season and are within spitting distance of the playoffs.
8. Baylor Bears
Did the #Big12 get better when Oklahoma and Texas decided to leave for the #SEC?#BoomerSooner #HornsUp #SicEm #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/g7ENt6jmgj
— Tailgate on the Quad (@QuadTailgate) November 13, 2021
If Baylor hadn’t lost to TCU, they could be sitting at seven (because the CFP rankings ignore head-to-head games). Unfortunately, they did lose and have no chance of making the playoffs*.
*Okay, they have a chance, but they would need Oklahoma to lose, they would need to win, then beat Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship, then have Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC championship and have them both lose this weekend, then have Ohio State blow out Michigan before being blown out in the Big Ten Championship. Even if all that happens, it is far from a sure thing.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss is sort of falling into the nine spot here. They only won by 14 against a now 2-9 Vanderbilt. However, teams above them lost and no one below them beat up on a ranked team, so Ole Miss lucked out.
10. Oklahoma
After their loss to Baylor, Oklahoma gets back into the top ten after a seven point win over 6-5 Iowa State.
To stay up to date on every single thought that crosses my mind, follow me on Twitter. Be sure to check out Belly Up to stay informed on the CFP rankings going forward, and why not listen to the latest episode of Tailgate on the Quad?
Listen to “Episode 24: It’s Rivalry Week!” on Spreaker.