The initial College Football Playoff rankings for the 2020 season are inching closer. Two weeks from today on Nov. 24 is when the debate truly begins. For now, playoff conversations are merely heating up.
We’re headed for yet another hotly-debated playoff scenario in which two leagues (ACC, SEC) have a legitimate chance to get two teams into the event, while two Power Five leagues (Big 12, Pac-12) have already seen their chances dwindle.
As we do every week in November, 247Sports is projecting what the CFB Playoff rankings would look like if they were released today. Forget the AP Poll. It doesn’t matter. Voters don’t follow the CFB Playoff committee’s protocol. For those unfamiliar with it, here’s a quick rundown of how the playoff committee looks at teams it considers comparable:
When programs are comparable at the margins and placing an emphasis on strength of schedule, head-to-head competition and outcomes against quality opponents. Those factors are tiebreakers when teams are otherwise even, based on record and the eye test.
Here’s what the top 10 would look like if the committee voted today.