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A perfect match between the two completely independent polls isn’t going to happen, but the one thing the College Football Playoff ranking and the AP Top 25 can’t seem to agree on is Notre Dame.
The AP gave the Irish their highest ranking of the season at No. 5 this week, whereas the College Football Playoff Committee holds firm in its decision to put Notre Dame at No. 4, much to dismay of irate Big 12 fans.
It’s not that the Irish’s don’t have a legitimate claim with their only loss to No. 1 Clemson, but they are above two undefeated teams from Power 5 conferences. At one loss, Notre Dame shouldn’t be locked in a spot in the top four, though the committee sure thinks so.
Here’s how the AP and Playoff Committee’s Top 7 stack up this week:
Irish! Clemson, Alabama, Ohio St, Notre Dame top playoff rankings https://t.co/b6q1AHcsSO @ralphdrussoAP pic.twitter.com/wKyBIGzMIy
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 18, 2015
Top 25 Heat Check: No. 2 Ohio St, No. 4 Oklahoma St are ranked too high https://t.co/D1TtSKzpha @ralphdrussoAP pic.twitter.com/qn3EWH6qRc
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 17, 2015
Aside from the 4-6 range — which notably impacts the Big 12 — the two rankings compare very favorably. Washington State is the only team in the AP Top 25 not in the Playoff rankings, replaced instead by Memphis.
The three biggest surprises in the Top 20: UNC, Houston, and Navy are really giving the voters the most headaches.
The Committee led with Navy at No. 16, UNC at No. 17, and undefeated Houston at No. 19. The AP had UNC at No. 12, made Houston their first ranked non Power-5 team at No. 13 and ranked Navy No. 19.
Only four SEC teams remain in both rankings, led by Alabama.
If you think you’re team got shammed in the first College Football Playoff ranking, don’t worry. Teams are bound to rise and fall between now and the semifinal selections.
