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Paul Finebaum reveals his College Football Playoff 'Rank & File' with surprise at No. 5

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•11/27/22•

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Paul Finebaum has revealed his Rank and File Top 4 plus 1 following a Week 13 that provided the clearest picture for the College Football Playoff thus far.

Both Ohio State and Michigan have been in Finebaum’s Top 4 for months, but something had to give with the two Big Ten powers facing off on Saturday. Additionally, Alabama keeps rebounding, but could Finebaum really put a two-loss Crimson Tide team in his top five? Stranger things have happened.

Here’s who Finebaum revealed as his top teams, which he shared with the world on SportsCenter on Sunday morning.

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4) USC Trojans

“Well we just talked about one, and that’s Southern Cal at No. 4,” began Finebaum. “What do they have to do? They have to win the championship game Friday night and they’re in. If they lose, I think they’re going to be in trouble, but at the rate Caleb [Williams] is playing, I don’t think they’re going to lose.”

3) TCU Horned Frogs

“At No. 3, yes, TCU playing one of its most dominant games of the year offensively and defensively, a complete beatdown,” stated Finebaum. “TCU is in great shape to make the Playoff.”

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2) Michigan Wolverines

“At No. 2, this one was not easy. I vacillated all night long. Finally put Michigan at the No. 2 position,” answered Finebaum. “Although many would argue that they have the most dominant win of the year in college football over Ohio State.

“Jim Harbaugh looks like he’s going back to the Playoff for the second year in a row.”

1) Georgia Bulldogs

“The Dawgs dogged it in the first half against Georgia Tech. You could expect that, they were looking ahead perhaps to the SEC Championship Game against LSU, with three losses now,” explained the SEC Network analyst. “But the Dawgs are No. 1.”

File) Ohio State Buckeyes

“My file team, and this was another one you could go either way, I’m going to go Ohio State for this reason, and we’re talking about Ohio State versus Alabama now, where chaos reigns,” elaborated Finebaum. “Ohio State lost to No. 2 at home, it was a beatdown in the fourth quarter. However, that’s the only loss. Alabama has two losses against two teams that now have five between them.

“So that is going to be where the committee has to decide this weekend, and we’ll hear it on Tuesday night.”