2023 CFP Rankings: 3 major takeaways from initial rankings

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 14: Mascot Osceola and Renegade of the Florida State Seminoles look on during the first half of a game against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 14: Mascot Osceola and Renegade of the Florida State Seminoles look on during the first half of a game against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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The initial CFP rankings for the 2023 College Football Playoff were released Tuesday night, and the Noles checked in at No. 4 as expected. I asked three questions Tuesday afternoon before the rankings were released. Would the playoff committee punish Michigan for their alleged cheating scandal? Would they consider the strength of the schedule? Would they only look at THIS year and not what teams have done in the past couple of years? The top four teams were:

  1. Ohio State
  2. Georgia
  3. Michigan
  4. Florida State

Here’s the rationale from the chair of the playoff committee that makes no sense whatever:

I’m not here to complain since FSU football make the top four teams as they should have and were in the No. 4 spot like I predicted. I’m here to point out the contradictions of pointing out Ohio State’s strength of schedule and ignoring FSU’s, who’s only second behind the Buckeyes.

He points out the close game against Boston College(who is now 5-3), but never mentions how Georgia was losing at halftime against a terrible South Carolina team. He mentions FSU’s win over LSU but doesn’t mention the win over a top 20 Duke team.

Ohio State and Michigan will play one another at the end of November, so one will be out regardless. Here are my three major takeways from the initial rankings.