The College Football Playoff Committee bracket week 10 results are in, and the SEC has predictably owned the first-ever college football playoff bracket. But Tide fans, look out: Alabama’s not even in the top five.
History’s first College Football Playoff poll showed Mississippi State in the top spot, an expected placement considering the Bulldogs’ No.1 ranking in every other poll. The Bulldogs were followed in the inaugural College Football Playoff Committee bracket by Florida State, Auburn and Ole Miss.
In an interview with ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd this morning, College Football Playoff Committee Chairman Jeff Long said that No. 4 spot in the playoff bracket was the most debated.
According to Long, the debate revolved around the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 slots, which are held by Ole Miss (4), Oregon (5) and Alabama (6). Although Ole Miss got the nod, he indicated Oregon has an opportunity to play into the top four if they play well in their remaining games and quarterback Marcus Mariota stays healthy.
Long didn’t say much about Alabama, which is certainly reason to pause. Alabama and Oregon are both one-loss teams, as is Ole Miss. But Oregon and Ole Miss got the nod in this initial college football playoff bracket presumably because they’ve had some solid wins this season. Alabama, a strong team, doesn’t have that signature victory.
The rest of the top-10 in the College Football Playoff Committee bracket week 10 results include TCU, Michigan State, Kansas State and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish’s No. 10 slot is somewhat puzzling considering the team’s solid season so far and their last-second loss to No. 2 Florida State. Notre Dame is ranked 6 in the AP Poll and 7 in the Coaches Poll.
The College Football Playoff Committee gathered to compile these week 10 rankings, its first in the Committee’s history, just outside Dallas. According to reports, each member made their case for certain teams and debated such merits as strength of schedule and the impact of injuries and suspensions. These preliminary bracket results came only after multiple votes.
Only the top four teams will matter in the Committee’s final bracket. All other bowl games will be determined by conference affiliation, much as they have in the past. However, for the College Football Playoff Committee bracket week 10 results the 12-member team chose a Top 25 format to remain consistent with other polls. It’s unclear whether the Committee will follow that model in future weeks.