Miami Tops Last AP Poll Before Initial CFP Rankings
The ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 each have one undefeated team.
Miami continues to dominate the top of the AP Top 25, holding the No. 1 spot for an unprecedented third consecutive week. The undefeated University of Miami Hurricanes secured their victory over North Carolina, led by former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. This achievement solidifies Miami's position as one of just two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference represented in the top 25, which is currently lead by the Southeastern Conference.
The SEC's influence is evident with 10 teams holding their positions in the list, including the highly competitive South Carolina and Florida, both with records of 5-3. The Big 12 and Big Ten each have five teams represented, with Utah and UCLA securing the 3rd and 5th spots, respectively. Notably, UCLA recently bolstered their roster by signing head coach Bob Chesney, who had led James Madison to the College Football Playoff (CFP) the previous season.
Meanwhile, Utah is rapidly establishing themselves as a force in the Big 12 Conference after signing a private-equity deal to strengthen their program. Despite these impressive accomplishments, the AP rankings will soon take a backseat as teams shift their focus towards the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, which are set to be announced just a few days later.
A 13-member selection committee, comprising six athletic directors, four former coaches, two former players, and one former sportswriter, will determine the 12 teams that will compete for the national championship. This committee differs from the AP poll, which is voted on by approximately 60 sports journalists through an online ballot.
The CFP selection committee evaluates teams based on on-field performance, considering factors such as strength of schedule, head-to-head matchups, comparative outcomes against common opponents, and overall strength of record. The committee will publish weekly rankings for the following six weeks, concluding with the final rankings on December 6th, after the conference championship games.
As the season nears its end, the automatic bids for the Power Five conferences, including the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC, ensure that the champions from these conferences will secure their spots in the CFP. Additionally, No. 20 Boise State from the Pac-12 and No. 22 New Mexico from the Mountain West are the only Group of Six teams currently in the AP rankings.
Written by urgent.news from Front Office Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
