College Football Playoff Rankings: ESPN hybrid formula predicts second CFP Top 25

The College Football Playoff rankings are always a great debate every week of every season. So ESPN came up with a hybrid formula to predict the second set of rankings.

It’s a BCS style prediction utilizing SP and FPI in terms of power ratings and resume SP and strength of record. Sounds fun doesn’t it?

Let’s dive into ESPN’s Hybrid formula to predict the College Football Playoff, via Bill Connelly.

1. Georgia (9-0)

Georgia returns to the top of the heap after a win over Missouri and Ohio State’s less-than-stellar win over Rutgers. The rightful No. 1 team, to most, is back on top after winning two straight titles.

Georgia should have the easiest path now to the No. 1 spot. Win out and finish 13-0 as SEC champions with, presumably, a win over Alabama in the title game easily gives this team a No. 1 seed.

2. Michigan (9-0)

Michigan was No. 3 in the initial CFP rankings behind the likes of Georgia and Ohio State. Despite NCAA investigations and sign stealing allegations, basically a mess off the field, the team amazingly blocked out the noise.

How so? Well, by dominating on the field. Michigan’s strength of schedule is the biggest argument against this team being No. 1, but there’s no question the Wolverines are bulldozers. The true test comes this weekend at Penn State.

3. Ohio State (9-0)

Ohio State is firmly in the race, just as much as Michigan is for the final three weeks. Plus the Buckeyes already dispatched Penn State.

As long as they keep winning, it should be an undefeated showdown in Ann Arbor in the final weekend for all of the marbles. If others keep winning, it’s going to be hard to put in an 11-1 Ohio State or Michigan team without a conference title.

4. Florida State (9-0)

Florida State controls its own destiny as well. Win out and you’ll get into the playoff. It’s been a decade since FSU found itself in the final four. Remember the first playoff?

The strength of schedule might be dipping a bit with Clemson hovering at 5-4 and Notre Dame losing again. But, a win over Louisville in the ACC Championship Game, potentially, could look really strong at a certain point.

5. Washington (9-0)

The Huskies are undefeated after a shootout win over USC to knock the Trojans from the ranks. The team has a solid resume with its biggest win coming over Oregon. That could be a Pac-12 title game rematch as well.

But like Florida State, one loss could kill the Huskies’ playoff hopes. The good news? Michael Penix Jr. is one of the Heisman Trophy favorites so as long as he’s firing, Washington is in good shape.

6. Oregon (8-1)

Oregon is like a runaway freight train right now and the Ducks have a pretty darn quarterback themselves in Bo Nix. You almost forget that this team lost to Washington by a close margin. However, Oregon has no margin for error.

No two-loss team has ever made the College Football Playoff. So a loss anywhere for Oregon eliminates the Ducks from this conversation. What’s funny is, a one loss Oregon team as Pac-12 champions might look better than a one-loss Washington championship team.

7. Texas (8-1)

Texas is also in that one loss boat but you gotta hand it to the Longhorns right now. Maalik Murphy has filled in nicely for Quinn Ewers at quarterback, but objectively speaking, this team is much better with Ewers under center.

Even still, Texas is squarely the Big 12 favorite moving forward with Oklahoma losing its second game. But again, no margin for error for this one loss team.

8. Alabama (8-1)

Alabama was an afterthought after the Crimson Tide lost to Texas earlier this year. Well since then, Alabama hasn’t lost and is undefeated in SEC play. Barring disaster, Alabama will go back to the conference title game.

But Alabama knows what it has to do to return to the playoff under Nick Saban. The team has to win out and needs a win over Georgia on the other side of the conference. Doing so would almost assuredly get the Crimson Tide in. But it gets dicey if other teams run the table.

9. Penn State (8-1)

Penn State needs to win out to have any sort of chance. Going 11-1 and forcing a three-way tiebreaker, that would involve Michigan beating Ohio State, is a way to get to the Big Ten title game. And yes, it can happen.

To do that, Penn State’s Big Ten West opponents combined conference record would have to be the best over Ohio State and Michigan’s Big Ten West opponents. Right now, Penn State leads in that category. That seems to be the clearest path for the Nittany Lions to get to the playoff: winning the Big Ten.

10. Ole Miss (8-1)

The Rebels are a fascinating case for the College Football Playoff this year. Hypothetically, an 11-1 Ole Miss team could have a case if Alabama wins out and goes 12-1 as SEC Champions. But, and hear us out here, there’s more:

Georgia would (likely) be 12-1 and trump Ole Miss. So Ole Miss should root for Texas to win out to make Alabama’s lone loss look better. And then, you know, total chaos out there. There’s an unlikely path, but man it’s unlikely for Ole Miss, unless the Crimson Tide lose two SEC games and it puts the Rebels into the SEC title game at 11-1. Then, there’s a chance.

Rest of ESPN Hybrid Formula Top 25

11. Louisville (8-1) — up four spots from last week, per ESPN
12. Tennessee (7-2) — up four spots
13. Oregon State (7-2) — up four spots
14. Utah (7-2) — up four spots
15. Missouri (7-2) — down one spot
16. Oklahoma (7-2) — down five spots
17. LSU (6-3) — down four spots
18. Oklahoma State (7-2) — up 11 spots
19. Kansas (7-2) — up five spots
20. Notre Dame (7-3) — down eight spots
21. James Madison (9-0) — up four spots
22. Tulane (8-1) — up one spot
23. North Carolina (7-2) — up three spots
24. Kansas State (6-3) — down two spots
25. Arizona (6-3) — up nine spots

The predictions and formulas are always interesting to look at, especially in a BCS-type way. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to rank all of the teams and we’ll tune in Tuesday night for the reveal.