The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season come out Tuesday night, and hours prior to their release, one reporter has a very bold prediction. Stadium Network’s Brett McMurphy predicts Alabama will not be in the top 4 but at No. 5 in the first rankings.

Here’s is McMurphy’s prediction for the top 10:

  1. LSU
  2. Ohio State
  3. Penn State
  4. Clemson
  5. Alabama
  6. Georgia
  7. Baylor
  8. Oregon
  9. Utah
  10. Auburn

If this prediction comes to fruition, the rankings are going to ruffle some feathers Tuesday and even beyond. Alabama has a showdown with presumed No. 1 LSU this Saturday, and the Tigers probably prefer the Crimson Tide do not receive extra motivation from the committee ranking them No. 5.

Teams 2-5 are very interchangeable, so Alabama could very easily be No. 2. Ranking them at No. 5 also wouldn’t be outlandish; it’s just very weird to see them outside the Top 4. On a different note, Ohio State could be No. 1 instead of LSU.

Regardless, McMurphy seems to have done his former employer, ESPN, a favor, as maybe more fans will tune in now to see if the committee really has the guts to rank Alabama at No. 5.