Laura Rutledge names 4 best teams after Championship Weekend

Laura Rutledge has offered her thoughts on the 4 best teams ahead of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s final rankings.

Rutledge sees Michigan, Texas, Alabama and Georgia as the 4 best teams in college football after the conference championship games. A host and reporter for ESPN and the SEC Network, Rutledge acknowledged that the College Football Playoff selection committee’s final 4 will look different from her 4 best teams.

Disclaimer: I don’t think the committee does this BUT if they want to actually pick the 4 best, these are them:

1. Michigan
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Georgia

— Laura Rutledge (@LauraRutledge) December 3, 2023

Rutledge isn’t making any friends out west by leaving Washington out of her 4 best teams. The Huskies entered Week 14 as the consensus No. 3 in the major polls (CFP, AP Top 25, Coaches Poll). UW improved to 13-0 on the season by defeating No. 5 Oregon 34-31 as a 9.5-point underdog. It was Washington’s second win over Oregon in 2023.

Every year, the final Playoff poll generates debate about whether the final 4 should feature the 4 best teams or the 4 most deserving teams. Florida State is at the heart of that debate this year.

Many fans and pundits agree with Rutledge that FSU is not 1 of the 4 best teams following the injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis. The Seminoles, though, are ACC champions with a 13-0 record. For many, it’s hard to see an undefeated Power 5 champion being left out of the final 4 in favor of a 1-loss team.

Everyone has a take this Sunday. We’ll see what the CFP committee decides to do.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.