Boo Corrigan explains Ohio State at No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings

Ohio State debuted at No. 1 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings for the 2023 season, sitting in commanding position as it enters the final month of the season.

Boo Corrigan, the CFP selection committee chair, discussed why the Buckeyes landed at No. 1 on Tuesday evening.

“Obviously, the big win at Notre Dame,” Corrigan said. “The win over Penn State. They’ve got a top-five defense, they’ve got difference-makers on offense across the board. Marvin Harrison Jr. is an elite player. As we looked at it, we came to the conclusion as a group that Ohio State deserved to be the No. 1 team.”

The win over Penn State was certainly a huge one, one that put the Buckeyes in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West, in control of its own destiny with Michigan still on the schedule.

Just how big was the gap between Ohio State and No. 2 Georgia or No. 3 Michigan in the College Football Playoff rankings?

Probably not that large, currently.

“You’re looking at five teams that are undefeated,” Corrigan said. “There are seven overall but five that are in this group we were talking about. You start to look at body of work and Georgia — the wins over Kentucky, the win over Florida. The dominance Michigan has played with this year both offensively and defensively. Four wins over teams that are .500 or better. And then Florida State, as you’re looking at them, a win over LSU. Tight game against Boston College. As a group, the 13 of us came to a conclusion that this is the right order for the top four spots.”

There will be plenty of chances for all four top contenders to prove themselves down the stretch.

In addition to possible conference championship games, here are the remaining schedules for the current top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Ohio State: @ Rutgers, Michigan State, Minnesota, @ Michigan

Georgia: Missouri, Ole Miss, @ Tennessee, @ Georgia Tech

Michigan: Purdue, @ Penn State, @ Maryland, Ohio State

Florida State: @ Pittsburgh, Miami, North Alabama, @ Florida