College Football Playoff Committee Prioritizes ‘Eye Test’ for Contender Selection

The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee convened recently, bringing with it a comprehensive set of metrics to assess potential contenders for the national championship. The first rankings were unveiled on a Tuesday night, highlighting the intricate blend of subjective analysis and statistical evaluation that guides the committee’s decisions. Mack Rhoades, the committee chairman and athletic director at Baylor, emphasized the importance of both the “eye test” and traditional statistics in forming its conclusions.

Eye Test and Metrics in Selection

As the committee made its selections, the influence of the “eye test” became apparent. This subjective approach serves to complement the objective statistics that typically dictate rankings. Rhoades noted that evaluating teams through game footage aids in assessing aspects like physicality, player performance, and overall strength on the field.

Current Rankings Snapshot

The first rankings revealed the defending champion Ohio State as the top team, closely followed by Indiana and Texas A&M, who are both undefeated. Despite their impressive 41-40 win against Notre Dame early in the season, Texas A&M’s ranking has faced scrutiny due to their tough schedule compared to other teams.

• Top Teams:
  • 1. Ohio State
  • 2. Indiana
  • 3. Texas A&M
• Potential Matchups if the Playoff Started Now:
  • No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia, winner faces No. 4 Alabama
  • No. 11 Virginia at No. 6 Ole Miss, winner faces No. 3 Texas A&M
  • No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 BYU, winner faces No. 2 Indiana
  • No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Texas Tech, winner faces No. 1 Ohio State

Other Conference Champions and Rankings

This season has seen the elimination of automatic byes for conference champions, complicating playoff entries. Currently, five conference champions are assured spots, raising questions about the impact on teams vying for at-large bids.

Memphis Situation

Despite a significant victory that positioned Memphis as a seed, the team was excluded from the committee’s top 25 this week. Ranked 22nd by the AP, the Tigers have been performing well, yet their absence from this week’s listing remains perplexing.

Upcoming Games to Watch

Several key matchups could significantly influence future rankings, including:

• No. 7 BYU at No. 8 Texas Tech
• No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 22 Missouri
• Auburn at No. 16 Vanderbilt

As these games unfold, the playoff picture will likely shift, impacting perceptions of teams’ strengths and their playoff aspirations.