Welcome in to a new feature we are trying out here on SoBros Network because we were recently approved to be on Google News (YUGE win, LFG), and I am testing whether or not it’s worth doing these sorts of power rankings for the SEO. Yes, that’s the entire basis for this set of College Football Power Rankings.
For me, the premise is simple – it’s about who’s had the most impressive body of work. Like Mose mentioned on an earlier episode of the College Football Roundup, it seems a tad whack that preseason rankings are factored into the College Football Playoff discussion at all. Just because someone was ranked #1 before the season started doesn’t mean they’re actually the best team in the country. My rankings will be based largely on quality wins.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS: 2019-20 Bowl Games
1. LSU Tigers (13-0) – Quality wins over Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and absolutely stomping the Georgia Bulldogs en route to the SEC Championship. No question about it in my book – this is the best team in the country.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0) – The Buckeyes had quite the scare against Wisconsin, but they’re still the clear #2 in the country.
3. Clemson Tigers (13-0) – I still don’t know what to make of this team, considering their “quality wins” have come against Texas A&M and Virginia. But, we could just be witnessing a repeat of 2018, when the Tigers were viewed as underdogs before steamrolling Notre Dame and Alabama.
4. Oklahoma Sooners (12-1) – Credit to Jalen Hurts and company for getting it done against a game Baylor squad in the Big 12 Championship. This may be the first year that I have absolutely no gripe with CFP final four.
5. Oregon Ducks (11-2) – I still like the Ducks best of all the two-loss teams. They slipped up against Arizona State, and they should’ve beaten Auburn. This is one of the most complete football teams in the country. They get a crack at Wisconsin and a 12th win in the Rose Bowl.
6. Florida Gators (10-2) – The SEC was super top heavy this season. Personally, I think the Gators are lost in the shuffle, when in reality, they look like the most solid, complete team outside of LSU in the conference. They’re rewarded with a virtual home game in the Orange Bowl against a Virginia team they should destroy.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) – The Tide are a bad interception and/or a missed field goal away from likely being in the playoffs. But, them’s the breaks, sometimes. This is still one of the best teams in the country…they get Michigan in the Citrus Bowl in a game that is supposed to matter.
8. Auburn Tigers (9-3) – Three losses, shmee shmosses. This defense is nasty (even though the Tide nearly hung 50 on ’em). They could hang with anyone in the country. They get Minnesota in the Outback Bowl in a game that should be fun.
9. Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) – I don’t know why I thought the Bulldogs would be competitive against LSU when, all season long on the College Football Roundup, I was talking about how they haven’t been particularly impressive. They get Baylor in what should be a fun Sugar Bowl. I’m interested to see if Georgia comes out flat like they did against Texas last year.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) – This Penn State team is still hella fun to watch. I think it’s fair to call ’em the second best team in the Big Ten given how they played the Buckeyes this season. They get a Cotton Bowl berth against Memphis in what should be a fun game.
Did the committee get it right?
Here’s how the New Year’s Six has shaken down:
Peach Bowl (National Semi-final): LSU vs. Oklahoma
Fiesta Bowl (National Semi-final): Ohio State vs. Clemson
Cotton Bowl: Memphis vs. Penn State
Orange Bowl: Florida vs. Virginia
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Baylor
I get it – you have conference tie-ins to worry about. The New Year’s Six is based off of the College Football Playoff Rankings, so it’s not like the bowls can just pick whoever they want to anymore. But, Virginia? Wisconsin? Come on. I want an Oregon vs. Penn State Rose Bowl. Give me Memphis vs. Alabama, or Memphis vs. Notre Dame, or something like that.
I don’t know. That Rose Bowl and that Orange Bowl just don’t really do much for me.
But, the larger question regarding the playoffs is easy. The committee nailed it. No gripes from me this year. Those are unequivocally the four best and most deserving teams in the country, and damn it, they even seeded ’em correctly. Boring journalism, I know, but I have no issues with this field whatsoever.
Can’t believe another damn season is in the books.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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