2 winners, 3 losers from first College Football Playoff rankings: Alabama giant winner

On Tuesday night, the first College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled, sparking much debate and criticism of the committee's decision-making process. With four weeks left in the college football season, many changes are expected to occur week-to-week. However, some clear winners and losers have emerged from the initial rankings.

Alabama stands out as the biggest winner, securing the No. 5 spot. The Crimson Tide have two losses, against No. 2 Georgia and No. 13 Tennessee, giving them arguably the best two losses in college football. Despite this, Alabama is ranked above 8-0 UCLA and one-loss teams like BYU, Kentucky, and Notre Dame.

UCLA, on the other hand, is the biggest loser. The Bruins have only won games throughout the season, and their defense has stepped up since Nico Iamaleava's injury. However, the committee seems to be penalizing UCLA for winning, as they are on the brink of being excluded from the playoff. UCLA must lose one more game to be out of consideration.

Texas is ranked No. 7, and while they have two losses, both of them are not considered major losses. The Longhorns have beaten Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, making them one of the best three-win teams in the nation. However, their two losses against Oklahoma and Florida might not be enough for them to secure a playoff spot.

Notre Dame is ranked No. 11, which is surprising given their preseason ranking of No. 4. With just one loss, the Irish are on the brink of making the playoff, but their independent status and one loss against BYU might be working against them. Notre Dame might be out for the second year in a row if they lose their next game to Miami.

Wake Forest is ranked No. 16, but their lone loss came against Miami in Week 3. The Demon Deacons have been a force in terms of scoring, but the committee seems to be favoring the SEC in the initial rankings. Wake Forest doesn't play against ranked teams often due to a weak conference. However, if they win out, a one-loss Demon Deacons team would make the 12-team playoff.