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Predicting the first CFP poll top 25 in 2024
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Predicting the first CFP poll top 25 in 2024

As the College Football Playoff selection committee prepares its top 25 rankings of a historic 2024 season, let’s try to predict which teams will land in the poll.

College Football Playoff selectors create top 25 rankings based on evaluation of teams’ on-field performance.

The committee uses several metrics to select the best teams.

College Football Playoff voters also use advanced analytics to evaluate teams’ play, but those numbers play no official role in the committee that creates the top 25 rankings.

25. The army. The second strongest team in the Group of Five ranks with that undefeated record and being the only team in college football that has yet to trail at any point this season and while the committee will be skeptical of the Knights’ quality black recording. to this point, their 4th place nationally in point differential is what they want to see against that rotation.

24. Colorado. One of the most improved teams in college football this season, the Buffaloes have beaten two FBS teams with winning records and have a loss against top-ranked Kansas State.

23. Clemson. While the committee will appreciate that the Tigers have won six straight games by an average of 27 points, last week’s loss to unranked Louisville and the Week 1 blowout at the hands of Georgia will knock this team down a few spots.

22. Vanderbilt. A loss to Georgia Southern isn’t ideal, but win then – No. 1 Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia Tech have the Dores a surprise SEC opponent.

21. South Carolina. One of the few three-loss teams the committee will want to rank, the Gamecocks are coming off a pair of statements against no. 10 Texas A&M and played very close games against LSU and Alabama which they won very close.

20. Kansas State. The Wildcats own road wins against resurgent Colorado and Tulane, enough to be in the top seed, but the loss against Houston this week is something that can only be canceled out by winning the Big 12 title.

19. Pittsburgh. Three wins over bowl-eligible teams helps the Panthers, but a nasty loss to SMU, the No. 1 ranked team on their schedule, is something the committee will remember.

18. Louisville. The win at Clemson is a big resume booster, and even the Cardinals’ losses are somewhat impressive, all by one score and all against high-ranked competition.

17. Texas A&M. Beating LSU by 15 and beating Missouri are two big SEC wins that the committee will appreciate, but losing to South Carolina hurts and losing leader Le’Veon Moss could hurt the team later, as we know from the infamous decision of the state of Florida. last year that it will consider prominent injuries if they become relevant.

16. Iowa State. This could have been a top-10 team if not for a last-minute loss to Texas Tech at home, one that seriously narrows the Cyclones’ margin for error in the Big 12 title picture.

15. Ole Miss. While the Rebels are winless against currently ranked opponents, they have played very tight in losses and are coming off a 63-point effort against Arkansas that should pass this offense’s famous committee eye test.

14. LSU. The opening loss against USC hurts this team given the Trojans’ struggles since then, but the Tigers also own big wins against South Carolina and Ole Miss.

13. Alabama. While the loss to Vanderbilt hurts the Crimson Tide’s pride, it looks “better” to the committee given Vandy’s overall improvement, and Bama owns a huge win against Georgia.

12. Boise State. The likely leader in the group of five, as determined by the selectors, given the presence of ultra-productive quarterback Ashton Jeanty and the only blemish on the Broncos’ record being a 3-point loss to now-No. 1 Oregon on the road.

11. SMU. Six straight wins, including against Louisville and Pittsburgh, combined with Clemson’s losses puts the Mustangs right in the playoff picture and on a short list to contend for the ACC championship.

10. Penn State. One loss will impress the committee, and while one more loss against Ohio State and wins against some very average Big Ten opponents will give the selectors pause, the upcoming schedule should give the Nittany Lions every chance to finish 11- 1.

9. Tennessee. A loss to an Arkansas team that was just seeded by Ole Miss hurts, as do the Vols’ relative offensive struggles recently, but this is one of the best defenses in the country and owns a win over Alabama, but a test huge against Georgia is coming.

8. Notre Dame. The home loss to NIU will be a prominent topic of conversation in the locker room, as will the Irish not having a conference title to play for but a six-game winning streak that includes wins against then-ranked Louisville unbeaten. Navy, plus a road win against Texas A&M, is more than enough to make up for that early season mishap.

7. Indiana. The Hoosiers are 9-0 for the first time thanks to an outstanding offensive half under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, ranking first in college football with a 27.8 point differential and while the quality of the program could be a concern, team team. performance against those teams is what selectors want to see.

6. Texas. Having just one loss in their debut SEC season is important for the Longhorns, but a top-five finish might be a lost cause, as that loss came at home to Georgia by 15 points.

5. BYU. One of five remaining undefeated teams in college football, the Cougars own two huge wins, a 31-point upset against Kansas State and against SMU in that team’s only loss this season. That win also came in Dallas.

4. Miami. There may not be a signature win on the Hurricanes’ schedule this season, but a dynamic offense with Heisman hopeful Cam Ward at quarterback looks capable of scoring at will, including in a come-from-behind win against Duke last weekend.

3. Ohio State. Being one point away from an undefeated team and that loss coming on the road against the top team in the country is enough to stay in the top four, but one spot below the Bulldogs as the committee will favor a ranked loss. SEC due to a loss in the Big Ten.

2. Georgia. That loss against Alabama is something the committee will keep in mind because of last week’s sluggish effort against Florida, but the win against Clemson is valuable, and a dominant win at then-undefeated Texas is extremely important.

1. Oregon. There probably won’t be any arguments in the boardroom about the Ducks, who own that win over Ohio State, beat the Group of Five favorite and are coming off a 21-point win at Michigan, all because of one frame. of blue-chip skill players.

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