The initial release of the College Football Playoff rankings came Tuesday night live on ESPN.
The No. 1 spot went to Tennessee on the strength of its 52-49 win over Alabama with a lot still to be determined. The Vols will face No. 3 Georgia at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in a game that could determine the SEC East. Ohio State was No. 2.
The Crimson Tide was No. 6 in the first ranking with one win over teams ranked by the playoff committee. No. 24 Texas (5-3) is the best win to date with road trips to No. 10 LSU and No. 11 Ole Miss next for Alabama where two wins could clinch the SEC West.
Alabama is ahead of undefeated TCU who came in at No. 7 in Tuesday’s ranking.
Georgia was No. 1 in both the Associated Press and coaches polls last week with Tennessee and Ohio State tied at No. 2 in the AP ranking.
The playoff committee will release rankings weekly every Tuesday night before setting the semifinal games Dec. 4 after the conference championship games are played.
First College Football Playoff ranking of 2022
- Tennessee (8-0)
- Ohio State (8-0)
- Georgia (8-0)
- Clemson (8-0)
- Michigan (8-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- TCU (8-0)
- Oregon (7-1)
- USC (7-1)
- LSU (6-2)
- Ole Miss (8-1)
- UCLA (7-1)
- Kansas State (6-2)
- Utah (6-2)
- Penn State (6-2)
- Illinois (7-1)
- North Carolina (7-1)
- Oklahoma State (6-2)
- Tulane (7-1)
- Syracuse (6-2)
- Wake Forest (6-2)
- NC State (6-2)
- Oregon State (6-2)
- Texas (5-3)
- UCF (6-2)
