Getty Image / Sam Hodde
On Tuesday night, the penultimate 2024 College Football Playoff Rankings were released to much controversy. But, that controversy could pale in comparison to the kind of controversy we could see on Selection Sunday in just a few days.
With only conference championship games set to be played, the field should theoretically be pretty set. But, given comments made by selection committee members after the reveal of the rankings on Tuesday, that may not be the case.
First, here are the current rankings.
BREAKING: New College Football Playoff Rankings🚨https://t.co/RhLdA624Pk pic.twitter.com/B19KR3qpVA
— On3 (@On3sports) December 4, 2024
Here is the 12-team bracket if the season ended today.
College Football Playoff, if it started today pic.twitter.com/8b4QW6O2kc
— RankingsU (@Rankings_U) December 4, 2024
As a quick reminder, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed berths in the field, with the four highest of those five guaranteed the first four seeds and first-round byes. Right now, teams like SMU and Boise State are benefitting from that provision.
Boise State is likely playing an elimination game in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game on Friday Night against UNLV. If UNLV wins that game, they’re likely going to get the spot reserved for the highest-ranked Group of 5 Conference Champion.
Right now, the final berth for at-large selections looks to be Alabama’s unless SMU loses to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Clemson would be a bid-stealer, and the final at-large would come down to SMU and Alabama, it seems.
Right now, the 11-1 Mustangs are ranked ahead of Alabama. You’d think that, even if they lost to Clemson, the committee shouldn’t punish them for having to play an extra game that Alabama didn’t have to play.
But, it seems like that SMU could find itself on the outside looking in for losing a 13th game that Alabama doesn’t have to play.
If SMU loses to Clemson, can SMU drop below Alabama?
CFP chair Warde Manuel: "Potentially yes"
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) December 4, 2024
This is pretty ridiculous, frankly. Teams who make their Conference Championship Game shouldn’t be punished in favor of those who don’t. That just doesn’t make any sense. If you think Alabama is better than SMU, that’s fine. But, to punish SMU for playing an extra game that Alabama didn’t have to play in is ridiculous.
That goes for teams like Penn State, Georgia, Oregon, and Texas as well. Those teams shouldn’t fall behind teams like Notre Dame and Ohio State, teams that don’t have to play a 13th game.
Ultimately, the committee is going to have to make someone mad next Sunday.