Georgia No. 1; Cincinnati outside top 4

Georgia grabbed the top spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2021-22 season but it was Cincinnati and Oregon who stole the early headlines.

It was the 31st appearance by the Bulldogs (8-0) and the third time they’ve been No. 1 in the rankings, but the first since Nov. 7, 2017.

Much of the focus on the first rankings centered around where the committee would place undefeated Cincinnati (8-0). The Bearcats are looking to become the first Group of Five program to make the playoff but they face a perceived uphill climb with the committee ranking them at No. 6.

Alabama (7-1) and Michigan State (8-0) came in at Nos. 2 and 3 respectively, but it was the committee’s decision to put Oregon (7-1) at No. 4 that was somewhat of a surprise.

The Ducks wound up one spot ahead of Ohio State (7-1) at No. 5.

Oregon defeated the Buckeyes 35-28 on Sept. 11 with their only loss coming against struggling Stanford (3-5) on Oct. 2.

Alabama and Ohio State have appeared in every ranking (43) since the inception of the playoff in 2014.

Michigan (7-1) came in at No. 7 despite stumbling late against Michigan State. Oklahoma (9-0) landed at No. 8 as the Sooners haven’t looked impressive, struggling in one-score wins over Tulane, Nebraska, West Virginia, Kansas State and Texas. Notre Dame (7-1) rounded out the top ten. This is the first of six weekly rankings released by the 13-member selection committee, with the final standings revealed Sunday, Dec. 5. Those rankings will determine the four semifinalists along with the teams taking part in the New Year’s Six bowl games.

The two semifinals, which rotate annually, will take place in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl and in Miami at the Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 31.

The Peach (Dec. 30), Fiesta (Jan. 1), Rose (Jan. 1) and Sugar (Jan. 1) bowls host the rest of the New Year’s Six games.

If Cincinnati doesn’t qualify for the semifinals, the Bearcats would be eligible to earn an automatic spot in one of the New Year’s Six Access bowl games as the top-ranked conference champion from the Group of Five. The College Football Playoff national championship game is slated for Monday, Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.