CFP Rankings Place Two-Loss Alabama at No. 5

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its initial rankings on Tuesday night, placing Alabama at No. 5 despite the Tide having lost two games in early November. The top four spots went to undefeated Miami, one-loss Georgia, undefeated Utah, and one-loss Indiana.

Alabama’s position sits above Kentucky, which holds the No. 6 spot. To reach the third undefeated Power 4 team, UCLA, the list must pass two-loss Texas at No. 7. The Bruins follow at No. 8, ahead of 7-1 BYU and another two-loss SEC team, Ole Miss.

Notre Dame currently holds the No. 11 ranking. The Irish face the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, a game that could determine if they secure a playoff spot. Ohio State, which is using a backup quarterback, rounds out the initial twelve. However, Boise State, ranked No. 25, already claims the guaranteed Group of Six spot, which would leave Ohio State out of the bracket.

The committee’s choice to prioritize strength of schedule appears to be driving these results. Tennessee, which beat Alabama by roughly 1,000 points this season, is ranked No. 13. The current standings have many fans rooting for LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin to defeat Alabama on Saturday.

In other college football news, Georgia Tech is offering half-price tickets and $5 beers for its Saturday night game against Louisville. The Jackets, who were 8-0 just 53 weeks ago, have lost ten of their last thirteen games. They need to win out to avoid their first losing season since the departure of Geoff Collins. Head coach Brent Key admitted the program is not functioning well on the field and that he must make necessary adjustments.

Georgia Tech men’s basketball started its season under new coach Scott Cross with a win. Meanwhile, the Falcons landed in Madrid to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. Atlanta Falcons reporters confirmed that James Pearce Jr. practiced on a Spanish field.

The Atlanta Dream’s Game 7 match against Golden State drew 3.3 million viewers, setting a record for the most viewers in WNBA playoff history. It is also the second-most watched game in the league since its start in 1997. In the NBA, the Hawks face the Washington Wizards in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Trae Young is healthy and expected to play, which would mark his first game against his former team.

Young has started all seven of Washington’s games this season, averaging 36 minutes per game. He averages just under 20 points and leads the league with 10 assists per contest. He has played in only 13 games in a Wizards uniform since his January trade.