AP 25 Disagrees With College Football Playoff Rankings in Week 11: The Biggest Gaps

Different views of Alabama

The committee remained impressed with Alabama despite losses to Georgia and Tennessee, placing weight on the Crimson Tide’s overall strength of record. AP voters were more critical of the team’s recent play.

Still, AP voters considered Alabama’s close game against Georgia, its decisive win over Kentucky and its dominant performance at LSU. Those results helped keep the team’s standing in view even as voters assessed its recent form.

Notre Dame and Miami shifts

Notre Dame began the week ranked fourth by AP voters and fell two places after a four-point loss at BYU. The committee had rated the Fighting Irish much lower, at No. 11, citing a schedule with no wins over ranked teams.

After Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami, the committee moved the Irish up seven spots. Miami also fell after the loss and an injury to star receiver Malachi Toney, but AP voters kept the Hurricanes in the top five while the committee placed them below Notre Dame.

Indiana drops while idle

Indiana went from No. 4 in the committee’s rankings to No. 9 a week later without playing. The shift followed other teams’ results near the top ten and a committee discussion that the Hoosiers’ strength of schedule had weakened relative to peers. Indiana will face USC on Saturday, giving the team a chance to affect that view through its next result.

BYU and Texas Tech differ

BYU’s losses at unranked UCF and unbeaten Utah prompted different responses. The committee kept the Cougars in its top ten, ahead of defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, which ranked No. 12.

AP voters placed BYU below Texas Tech, which took the Cougars’ No. 10 spot in the committee rankings. The article says Texas Tech could make the selectors reconsider that order by winning out.