Media reacts to fifth College Football Playoff rankings
The new College Football Playoff selection committee ranking were unveiled on Tuesday. The top four stayed the same (Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, Georgia), but there were some notable shakeups from Nos. 5-12. From an SEC perspective, the biggest winners of the post-Week 14 rankings were Florida, Auburn and Tennessee. The No. 9 Gators now appear to be in great position for a New Year’s Six bowl, with the Sugar, Orange and Cotton Bowls all in play depending on the outcome of championship weekend. No. 11 Auburn now has an outside chance of getting in the Cotton Bowl. If AU does go to Texas, it means Tennessee could be heading to the Outback Bowl, an impressive landing spot after the disastrous start to the 2019 campaign.
A bonus: Nick Saban vs. Jim Harbaugh is starting to look likely, as multiple media members pointed out.
Here’s what various media members said in their initial reactions on Twitter:
It feels like some members of the committee are trying to keep Ohio State’s resume strong — by artificially inflating Michigan and Wisconsin’s rankings — to avoid LSU overtaking Buckeyes at number one with a win over Georgia.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 4, 2019
Virginia being ranked 23 means that's it's quite possible they're unranked with a blowout loss to Clemson (favored by 28.5). If UVA wins or loses and stays ranked, they're guaranteed an Orange Bowl bid. If they finish unranked, the Orange Bowl can pick between UVA/VT/WF.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 4, 2019
BTW … this whole #CFBPlayoff ranking system sort of sucks. It's cruel and ridiculous that Utah, Oklahoma and Baylor can't necessarily play their way into the playoff and has to rely on a panel of judges.
— Pete Fiutak (@PeteFiutak) December 4, 2019
I would guess you'll see an Alabama-Michigan Citrus Bowl. They're not obligated to go by rankings, and that's too juicy to pass up.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 4, 2019
NY6 based on this week’s CFP rankings:
Peach: LSU-Clemson
Fiesta: Ohio State-Georgia
Orange: Virginia-Penn State
Rose: Utah-Wisconsin
Sugar: Oklahoma-Florida
Cotton: Baylor-Memphis— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 4, 2019
A Saban-Harbaugh Citrus Bowl is in play.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 4, 2019
If Wisconsin and Penn State both stay in the Top 10, Big Ten and SEC will both put three in NY6. Auburn just misses.
I don't think Wisconsin should get punished for playing Ohio State a second time, but the committee has done it before.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 4, 2019
Big for Utah. Not that Oklahoma couldn't jump them on Sunday, but if they'd done it tonight there was probably no reversing it.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 4, 2019
Good news for No. 5 Utah. In four of the previous 5 CFP seasons, the No. 5 team going into championship weekend has made the Football Four.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 4, 2019
Wisconsin jumps up… Michigan only drops one spot for that egg they laid at home… The @CFBPlayoff is in love with the B1G.
— Russ Mitchell (@RussMitchellCFB) December 4, 2019
To be clear: Alabama does not deserve to be in the Top 10 (they're not in mine.) I'm just frankly surprised the committee actually agreed.
Will keep Tide out of a NY6 bowl.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 4, 2019
I’m trying to come up with a scenario where the #Gators are NOT in a NY6 bowl, given tonight’s rankings. I’m struggling to do so
— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) December 4, 2019
No. 11 Auburn’s outside shot at the New Year’s Six — likely the Cotton Bowl against the top Group of 5 team — mostly depends on what the committee would do with No. 8 Wisconsin if it loses to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) December 4, 2019
This is significant. Auburn back in New Year’s Six discussion. https://t.co/Lb17gGSfXx
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 4, 2019
Was skeptical, but impressed CFB Playoff committee dropped Bama so far. Also, no way Penn State should have stayed ahead of #Gators after needing two 4th-quarter TDs during 27-6 home win vs. Rutgers. https://t.co/lRpdDJJS8G
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) December 4, 2019
Yeah, same here.
Tonight opened up a Sugar Bowl possibility, still in great shape for Orange or even Cotton.
Cotton Bowl is basically a safety NY6 game for UF now. https://t.co/yC9GWFEnKe
— Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) December 4, 2019
And Bloomin' Onions, mate.
Or shrimp. https://t.co/UOISczWIiC
— Noah Taylor (@ByNoahTaylor) December 4, 2019
Prestige, and the Outback payout is $6.35 million. Gator payout is $3.17 million. https://t.co/r7q9fxOABW
— David Ubben (@davidubben) December 4, 2019
Tennessee fans should root hard for Auburn to land in the NY6. That's most likely the difference between Tennessee playing in the Outback Bowl vs. the Gator Bowl. Vols look headed to Tampa as long as Auburn isn't.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) December 4, 2019
