College Football Playoff Rankings reactions: Tennessee overrated, Ole Miss underrated in new top 25

We are nearing the tip of the 2023 college football season, and the race for the College Football Playoff is heating up. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee launched its ratings on Tuesday, and probably the most notable alternate was once close to the top as Washington leaped Florida State at No. 4. 

The Seminoles treated North Alabama comfortably on Saturday, however misplaced beginning quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Jordan Travis to a season-ending leg damage in the primary quarter. At the similar time, the Huskies had been in the midst of thrashing No. 16 Oregon State at the highway in Corvallis, which gave Washington its 0.33 win over a present top 25 group in addition to its house win over No. 6 Oregon and highway win over No. 15 Arizona. 

Washington’s resume is a long way awesome to that of Florida State’s, which handiest contains two wins over ranked groups — a impartial web site win over No. 14 LSU to open the season and an extra time win at No. 24 Clemson. Washington leaping Florida State is simply wonderful. In reality, it is suitable. Sure, FSU enthusiasts are most certainly livid about it, however the portray is not entire but, which is particularly the case for the Seminoles. 

We have no idea what sort of group Florida State in reality is with Tate Rodemaker on the helm beneath middle. He might be the second one coming of Cardale Jones, who led Ohio State to the identify in 2014 as a third-stringer. Without that information, there is not any reason why to stay the Seminoles forward of a Washington group that has received — albeit unsightly from time to time — all of its video games and has a greater resume on paper. 

The committee at all times says that it components in accidents, but it surely does not specify “how” that procedure performs out. If Rodemaker is going available in the market and shines, that can most likely provoke the committee greater than it could had Travis stayed wholesome. Or, if Florida State squeaks by way of, the committee may view the present model of the Seminoles a product that is not CFP worthy.

In the tip, it will topic. If Florida State wins out and tops No. 10 Louisville in the ACC Championship Game, that might be a lovely stroke of the paintbrush to near out the image, particularly beneath the route of backup quarterback. For now, even though, it is completely wonderful for Washington to be No. 4 whilst we look ahead to the paint to dry.

Where else did the committee pass over? Let’s damage down the overestimated and underrated groups in the most recent version of the CFP Rankings.

There is solely no reason why for the four-loss Volunteers to be ranked. They had been blown out in each and every in their earlier two video games — in opposition to No. 9 Missouri and No. 1 Georgia, respectively — and misplaced 3 in their ultimate 5 relationship again to the 34-20 loss to No. 8 Alabama on Oct. 21. Plus, the fourth loss was once to a Florida group that has but to succeed in bowl eligibility. The dashing assault, which was once the power of the Volunteers for almost all of the season, has fallen off of a cliff during the last two weeks. Simply put, there may be not anything about this group that implies that it is remotely with reference to being a top 25 group. Conspiracy idea: It’s nearly just like the committee needs to stay SEC groups in the ratings to spice up higher-profile groups in the convention. 

Underrated: No. 12 Ole Miss

The Rebels offense is ready as bad because it will get. Quarterback Jaxson Dart can mild issues up throughout the air with Tre Harris and a skilled receiving corps. Running again Quinshon Judkins is a monster at the floor. The protection creates havoc in the backfield, score 0.33 in the SEC in tackles for loss (73). Plus, they have got high quality wins over No. 14 LSU and at No. 23 Tulane. Compare that to No. 11 Penn State, which handiest has one high quality win (No. 17 Iowa) and is very restricted throughout the air, and there’s no justifiable rationalization to have the Nittany Lions forward of Lane Kiffin the Rebs.