Boo Corrigan explains what ultimately separated TCU over Ohio State in final CFP rankings

Despite losing to Kansas State Saturday in the Big-12 Championship game, TCU remained No. 3 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, leaving Ohio State at No. 4.

CFP Committee Chair Boo Corrigan revealed the reasoning behind keeping a one-loss TCU team ahead of a one-loss Buckeyes squad.

“You’re looking at body of work. We talked earlier in the year about being maybe a little bit more balanced in their defense,” Corrigan said on the selection show Sunday. “And when you look at the last five games, I believe they’re giving up about 20 points a game on defense, the way that game flowed yesterday and their ability to come back and their ability to play the way they do.

“Max Duggan – what a warrior. To go through the game the way he did to put them in a position to take the game not only go to overtime, but a chance to win that game. Again, the committee looked at the full body of work. A lot of respect for Kansas State in that room as well.”

Corrigan also noted that the committee is evaluating margin of loss as well. Ohio State’s lone loss to Michigan – two CFP teams – saw the Buckeyes get trampled by the Wolverines by three scores. TCU’s only loss was in overtime to a top-10 team.

“While the margin was greater, you’re certainly trying to look at the game in its entirety and then again, push that forward into a whole body of work by the season,” Corrigan said.

With the rankings finalized, the Buckeyes will avoid a semifinal rematch against Michigan, and instead will face No. 1 seed Georgia in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Instead, TCU will meet the Wolverines in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl. Both games are set for New Year’s Eve, with the national championship coming on Monday, Jan. 9.