Clemson Ranked In Top Two Of Initial College Football Playoff Rankings

The Playoff Committee released the initial rankings of the College Football Playoff Rankings tonight and Clemson was ranked #2. Three years ago Clemson was ranked #1 in the initial poll. Last season, the Tigers checked in at #4 in the initial release. 

Clemson is 8-0 so far this year with wins over four teams with winning records, and boast the nation's top Strength of Record. Of those four teams (Texas A&M, Georgia Southern, Syracuse, NC State) three, Syracuse (19), Texas A&M (20) and NC State (21), are in the Playoff Committee's top 25, while Georgia Southern is in the top 35 of most computer rankings. Clemson's opponent in two weeks, Boston College, is ranked No. 22. 

Clemson has been in the top four for 19 releases, which is second only to Alabama's 22 releases.

Dabo Swinney spoke highly of the Crimson Tide, saying Alabama deserves to be No. 1, 2, and 3 while the rest of the country is on the "Rest-of-y'all bus." ESPN's Rece Davis kindly disagreed.

Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State are the only three teams to appear in all 26 sets of rankings released by the committee in the playoff era.

College Football Playoff Rankings

#1 Alabama (8-0) vs  #4 Notre Dame (8-0)

#2 Clemson (8-0) vs #3 LSU (7-1)

Outside looking in:

#5 Michigan (7-1)

#6 Georgia (7-1)

#7 Oklahoma (7-1)

#8 Washington State (7-1)

#9 Kentucky (7-1)

#10 Ohio State (7-1)

#11 Florida (6-2)

#12 UCF (7-0)

#13. West Virginia (6-1) 

#14 Penn State (6-2)

#15 Utah (6-2)

#16 Iowa (6-2)

#17 Texas (6-2)

#18 Mississippi State (5-3)

#19 Syracuse (6-2)

#20 Texas A&M (5-3)

#21 NC State (5-2)

#22 Boston College (6-2)

#23 Fresno State (7-1)

#24  Iowa State (4-3)

#25  VIrginia (6-2)