The final stretch of the college football regular season is upon us, and with it comes the unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings. Every Saturday going forward is an opportunity for teams to prove themselves to the committee or falter and fall out of the championship picture.

I find it funny that the rankings we used up to this point are meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The playoff selection committee unveiled their first rankings this Tuesday, and it’s clear that they prioritize resume over all else.

Tennessee claimed the top spot in the inaugural rankings, marking its first time being ranked number one in the 21st century.

While arguments can be made for Ohio State (No. 2 CFP) and Georgia (No. 3 CFP)  being better teams, the Vols’ resume is unmatched with five wins against ranked opponents.

The committee also valued Clemson’s quality wins, as it made the top four over Michigan (No. 5 CFP) who’s more consistent in 2022.

Despite scattered offensive results and potential uncertainty at QB, the Clemson Tigers have ranked wins against Wake Forest, NC State and Syracuse.

Clemson making the top four in the initial rankings shows that it will be more difficult for the SEC or Big Ten to get multiple teams in than initially thought.

Assuming Clemson takes care of business the rest of the way, it will get in over any one-loss team regardless of circumstance.

The winner of “the Game”  is all but assured to be an undefeated Big Ten Champion, and the SEC Champion will obviously get in as well.

That leaves only one spot up for grabs for a one-loss non-conference champ.

I haven’t even mentioned TCU (No. 7 CFP) who may very well make things difficult for the committee should it remain unblemished on selection Sunday.

You would think an undefeated Power Five conference champion is a lock to make the dance, however the abundance of high-caliber one loss teams makes that an uncertainty.

This year serves as a case study for anyone arguing to expand the playoff. There may very well be more than four playoff caliber resumes at season’s end, meaning someone has to be left out.

While the race for the playoff remains murky, the race for the SEC title will be clear by Sunday morning.

In what may very well be the game of the year, Tennessee looks to continue its improbable run by knocking off the reigning national champs in the Bulldogs’ house. 

The Volunteers’ number one offense has been a buzzsaw that not even Alabama could slow down. If anyone is gonna be able to contain Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt and company, it will be Georgia this Saturday.

The Bulldogs have the second best scoring defense in America despite losing most of their key contributors to the draft last spring.  

The biggest question entering this matchup is how Tennessee’s secondary holds up against one of the best passing attacks in the nation.

The Vols are the top-ranked team in college football despite an abysmal pass defense that ranks bottom five in the FBS. Stetson Bennett and Georgia’s weapons are more than capable of blowing this game open and taking advantage of Tennessee’s major weakness.

Despite its struggles, Tennessee’s defense is coming off of its best performance of the season, holding Will Levis to under 100 yards passing in a 44-6 rout over Kentucky.

The winner of Saturday’s matchup will play for the SEC Championship and should have a playoff spot secured even with a possible  loss in Atlanta.

As for who the winner will be playing for the conference crown, that could very well come down to who wins in Baton Rouge on Saturday night.

Alabama travels to Death Valley to take on a red hot LSU team who is still very much alive in the playoff race despite two losses.

LSU already has the head-to-head over Ole Miss and a win over Bama would give it  control of the West. 

A two-loss team has never made the playoff, however LSU is already ranked in the top ten and can hypothetically make the top four should it win out.

Alabama is been vulnerable away from Bryant-Denny Stadium lately with its last road game resulting in a goal post finding its way to the bottom of the Tennessee River.

Nick Saban has been dominant in his old stomping grounds, going 6-1 in Death Valley since being hired at Alabama back in 2007.

Should LSU pull off the upset this weekend, the playoff picture will get even more complicated.

Chris’ College Football Top 25 Rankings:

1.Ohio State Buckeyes(8-0) W vs Penn State 44-31, last week-1

2.Georgia Bulldogs(8-0) W vs Florida 42-20, last week-2

3.Tennessee Volunteers(8-0) W vs Kentucky 44-6, last week-3

4.Michigan Wolverines(8-0) W vs Michigan State 29-7, last week–4

5.Clemson Tigers(8-0) Bye Week, last week-5

6.Alabama Crimson Tide(7-1) Bye Week, last week-6

7.TCU Horned Frogs(8-0) W vs West Virginia 41-31, last week-7

8.Oregon Ducks(7-1) W vs California 42-24, last week-8

9,Utah Utes(6-2) W vs Washington State 21-17, last week-10

10.USC Trojans(7-1) W vs Arizona 45-37, last week-11

11.UCLA Bruins(7-1) W vs Stanford 38-13, last week-14

12.LSU Tigers(6-2) Bye Week, last week-15

13.Kansas State WIldcats(6-2) W vs Oklahoma State 48-0, last week-21

14.Ole Miss Rebels(8-1) W vs Texas A&M 31-28, last week-16

15.Penn State Nittany Lions(6-2) L vs Ohio State 44-31, last week-13

16.North Carolina Tar Heels(7-1) W vs Pittsburgh 42-24 , last week-19

17.Illinois Fighting Illini(7-1) W vs Nebraska 26-9, last week-20

18.Oklahoma State Cowboys(6-2) L vs Kansas State 48-0, last week-9

19.Wake Forest Demon Deacons(6-2) L vs Louisville 48-21, last week-12

20.Syracuse Orange(6-2) L vs Notre Dame 41-24, last week-17

21.Texas Longhorns(5-3) Bye Week, last week-23

22.Liberty Flames(7-1) Bye Week, last week-24

23.Tulane Green Wave(7-1) Bye Week, last week-25

24.Oregon State Beavers(6-2) Bye Week, last week-unranked

25.NC State Wolfpack(6-2) W vs Virginia Tech 22-21, last week-22

Dropped out of rankings-Kentucky