The official ranking of college football playoffs doesn’t come out for four weeks, giving things time before posting the real one.
But Georgia just beat Clemson at the start of the season, so if you think we’re going to sit back and wait without making our own projections, it would be wrong.
Aside from the Week 1 showdown between the Tigers and the Bulldogs, it wasn’t the most exciting of the first few weeks.
- Alabama looked like Alabama, in a 44-13 explosion over Miami.
- Ohio State and Oklahoma struggled to win unclassified teams.
- Texas A&M was dominant against the state of Kent.
- Iowa State only surpassed northern Iowa, unclassified, by six.
- Penn State knocked down Wisconsin in a battle among the top 25.
- The tenth ranked UNC fell to Virginia Tech.
So if the standings were released after the Week 1 action, what would all this mean for the college football playoff rankings?
Here’s a look at how we would rank the top 10 teams in the college football playoff rankings after the first week of action:
(And yes, I know Notre Dame hasn’t played against Florida State yet. We’ll update accordingly if necessary).
1. Alabama (1-0)
September 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide receiver Jameson Williams (1) gets a 94-yard touchdown during the third quarter of his game against the Miami Hurricanes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama beat Miami 44-13.
2. Georgia (1-0)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 4: Kenny McIntosh # 6 of the Georgia Bulldogs obstructs Malcolm Greene # 21 of the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Charlotte, Carolina of the North. (Photo by Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
Georgia’s defense looked great in a 10-3 win over Clemson.
3. State of Ohio (1-0)
Miyan Williams (28), Ohio State Buckeyes, beat Nyles Pinckney (5) during the fourth quarter of his match at the University of Minnesota’s Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (MN) on September 2, 2021.
Ceb Osu 21min Kwr 49
The Buckeyes fought Minnesota, but won 45-31.
4. Texas A&M (1-0)
September 4, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jalen Preston (5) runs the ball during the third quarter against Kent’s Golden State Flashes at Kyle Field. Mandatory credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
The Aggies looked dominant in a 41-10 win over Kent State. Because they managed business easily and Oklahoma didn’t, A&M moved up to No. 4.
5. Oklahoma (1-0)
September 4, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Caleb Kelly (19), the Oklahoma Sooners striker, presses Tulane Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt (7) during the third quarter at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Part of me wants to place Clemson here and Oklahoma at number 6. The Sooners only beat Tulane by five points, but at the end of the day they won and Clemson didn’t.
6. Clemson (0-1)
September 4, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) jumps to throw the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Clemson will likely not miss another game this season and his test against Georgia will undoubtedly be the biggest the Tigers will face the rest of the year.
Offensively, they fought … but it was against the best defense in the country. Defensively, they looked elite.
7. Cincinatti (1-0)
Cincinnati Bearcats defender Darrian Beavers (0) hits Miami Redhawks quarterback AJ Mayer (10) in the second half of the NCAA football game on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Miami Redhawks 49-14.
Cincinnati Bearcats Miami Redhawks
The Bearcats looked good against Miami, Ohio in a 49-14 victory. They’re not a PCP team, but they still looked good.
8. Notre Dame (if it exceeds FSU)
September 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; close up view of the Norte Dame logo on the goal post before a game between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
If the struggling Irish won the FSU on Sunday night, they should register around 8 September.
9. Penn State (1-0)
Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (13) reaches a 53-yard pass while covered by Wisconsin safety Scott Nelson (9) during the third quarter of his game on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at the Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Penn State beat Wisconsin 16-10.
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The Nittany Lions won a Wisconsin ranked team. If the resume speaks for itself, Penn State deserves a place in the top ten.
10. Florida (1-0)
Ja’Markis Weston (82) makes an attack on Florida Atlantic Owls, wide receiver Lajohntay Wester (83), during a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, on September 4, 2021 .
UFfauGameAction39
I wouldn’t expect it to last long. Honestly, Florida is only here because the future teams above it lost or didn’t look impressive.