2023 has been a remarkable season of college football! With rivalry week and the regular season now in the rearview mirror, let’s analyze the College Football Playoff picture before the upcoming conference championships next week. I am using the AP rankings from November 26th in this assessment before the latest CFP rankings are set to be released this evening.
#1 Georgia Bulldogs
Photo Cred: NCAA.com
The Georgia Bulldogs, two-time defending national champions, opted for Carson Beck as starting quarterback to replace Stetson Bennett. They lost many of their best players to the NFL this offseason, particularly on defense. That did not stop Georgia from completing an undefeated regular season, even with an injury to Brock Bowers and close calls in a few games. Next up for the Bulldogs is the SEC championship game against Nick Saban and #8 Alabama. It will be a crucial matchup that could impact their College Football Playoff (CFP) chances. They currently hold the #1 CFP ranking comfortably. However, a loss to Alabama might jeopardize the SEC’s playoff representation, especially if every other power conference champions remain undefeated.
#2 Michigan Wolverines
Photo Cred: ClickOnDetroit
The Michigan Wolverines have had to deal with a sign-stealing investigation and were without their head coach Jim Harbaugh for the past three games. Regardless, they achieved an undefeated season, securing a third straight victory over Ohio State. With a top-two seed, Michigan is well-positioned for the CFP after defeating the Buckeyes. They are heavily favored heading into the Big Ten championship matchup against #18 Iowa.
#3 Washington Huskies
Photo Cred: MyNorthwest.com
Washington completed a perfect 12-0 season of their own, featuring notable wins against ranked teams like USC, Oregon State, Utah, and (most notably) #5 Oregon. The Huskies seek to win the Pac-12 title before the conference faces significant realignment. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will have another rematch against Oregon during the championship. Washington has a great resume but likely needs a Pac-12 championship win to secure a playoff berth.
#4 Florida State Seminoles
Photo Cred: Chop Chat
Florida State rounds out the top four teams, as the Seminoles are undefeated at 12-0. They do face the challenge of losing star quarterback Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury. The selection committee would be hard-pressed to keep an undefeated conference champion out of the CFP. FSU aims to maintain their playoff destiny with backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker. Seminoles fans must hope that their team can defeat #10 Louisville in the ACC championship game.
#5 Oregon Ducks
Photo Cred: UNISWAG
The Oregon Ducks are the highest-ranked one-loss team and currently hold the #5 spot, sitting right outside the playoff picture. Led by quarterback Bo Nix, their only loss was a close 36-33 defeat to Washington. Oregon will have their shot at revenge in the Pac-12 championship game this Friday night, and the winner of the game will have a strong case for a CFP spot.
#6 Ohio State Buckeyes
Photo Cred: Axios
The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered their lone loss of the season against the Michigan Wolverines, falling 30-24 in a hard-fought battle. They face an uncertain path to the CFP due to their third straight loss to UM, requiring help from other conference championships. The Buckeyes would have to hope for Louisville and Oklahoma State to upset FSU and Texas in their respective championship games. Additionally, Washington and Georgia would need to win their conference championships, which would prevent any other conference except for the Big Ten from sending two teams. Even with all of that, Ohio State would likely end up as the #4 seed. Missing out on the Big Ten championship game hinders their chances.
#7 Texas Longhorns
Photo Cred: texassports.com
The Texas Longhorns have had their best year in a long time, finishing with an impressive 11-1 record heading into the Big 12 championship game. Their non-conference win over Alabama strengthens their playoff case, coming in handy if the Crimson Tide upset Georgia in the SEC championship game. Assuming the Big Ten, ACC, and Pac-12 send their champions to the playoff undefeated, the Longhorns could end up with the final spot in the CFP. They could hold the SEC out entirely by virtue of their win over Alabama and Alabama’s hypothetical win over Georgia. Texas needs to win the Big 12 championship and hope for favorable results elsewhere.
#8 Alabama Crimson Tide
Photo Cred: Alabama Athletics
Despite an undefeated SEC season and an 11-1 overall record, the Alabama Crimson Tide faces long odds of any true contender for the CFP due to their 34-24 home loss to Texas. Even with an SEC championship win over Georgia, Alabama could be left out of the playoffs. Beating Georgia in the SEC championship will not be easy, especially after Bama needed a miracle finish to defeat the now 6-6 Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Michigan losing to Iowa and FSU losing to Louisville would seemingly open up a playoff spot. However, Texas’ head-to-head victory over the Tide makes it a hard case for Alabama to be picked over Texas if both teams finish as 12-1 conference champions. If Alabama does defeat Georgia, they must also hope for an Oklahoma State victory over Texas in the Big 12 championship game for their most realistic shot at making the College Football Playoff.
So there you have it. These are the top eight teams in college football, as per the AP rankings. They’re all vying for four coveted spots in the College Football Playoff to compete for a national championship. Stay tuned for the conference championship games this Friday and Saturday! There will be a selection show on Sunday to discover which teams make it to the CFP as well as the finalization of all of the other bowl game matchups.
