College Football Playoff Committee Ranks Utah Third and Oregon 23rd in First Season Rankings
The new selection process replaces the AP Top 25, placing Notre Dame at 11 and South Carolina at 21 while leaving last year's Group of Six champions unranked.
By Kofi Costa ·
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its first official rankings on Tuesday night, replacing the long-standing AP Top 25 as the primary metric for team strength. The new list immediately drew scrutiny for its handling of mid-major programs and recent conference realignment impacts.
The University of Utah secured the No. 3 seed, reflecting their recent success in the Big 12 conference. The Utes defeated No. 4 USC to win the Pac-12 championship last season and have maintained a high level of play this year. They are scheduled to play No. 9 Brigham Young University in an upcoming rivalry matchup.
Notre Dame holds the No. 11 position despite a single loss to BYU. The committee placed the Fighting Irish ahead of their Saturday matchup against No. 1 Miami. A loss to the Hurricanes would likely eliminate Notre Dame from playoff contention for a second straight year, given the current ranking structure.
South Carolina sits at No. 21 after winning three consecutive games. The Gamecocks currently hold a three-loss record in the Southeastern Conference. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and head coach Shane Beamer are leading a team that many analysts view as a middle-of-the-pack contender rather than an elite program.
Oregon ranks 23rd following a recent loss to Illinois. The Ducks beat Northwestern on Saturday but have struggled with consistency. The program recently dismissed its offensive coordinator, and head coach Dan Lanning faces internal pressure. The team entered the season with high expectations as a potential national title contender.
The committee ranked three teams that were previously members of the Group of Six in the top 20. These include Utah at No. 3, along with teams at No. 8 and No. 17. This inclusion contrasts with the treatment of other mid-major programs that have shown strong performance this season.
UTSA is 7-1 and 4-0 in the American Conference but did not receive a rank this week. The Roadrunners defeated Tulane 42-19 on October 24. James Madison University is 7-2 in the Sun Belt Conference and has produced two current head coaches at Power Four schools. Duke University is 6-2 and won the ACC championship last year, but its previous starter now plays for No. 1 Miami.
