What the CFP rankings got wrong about Indiana, Miami

The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee has once again demonstrated its penchant for favoring Georgia and Alabama, showing a strong inclination towards the SEC, and displaying a lack of appreciation for the ACC. Oregon and Notre Dame were among the notable rise-ups in this week's CFP rankings. Meanwhile, Mississippi, Ohio State, and LSU experienced the most significant drops, with Indiana falling five spots during an open date for the Hoosiers.

On USA TODAY Sports podcast "College Football Unfiltered," hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Brice discussed what the committee got right and wrong in these rankings, including the most overrated and underrated teams, as well as the committee's stance on the Alabama/Tennessee comparison. Toppmeyer and Brice also pointed out that no 9-3 team has ever qualified for the playoff, and suggested which teams from the SEC and Big Ten would be in a good position to qualify with a 9-3 record.

The most overrated team, according to Brice, is No. 9 Indiana, who the Hoosiers fan described as overrated last week. He remains skeptical even after the committee dropped Indiana five spots, pointing out that the team's resume and performance on offense are lacking. If Indiana drops another spot after a home loss to USC, it would not be included in the next week's bracket.

Toppmeyer believes No. 12 Texas Tech is also overrated. The team's strength of schedule is poor, and their defense has struggled lately, conceding 48 points to West Virginia in their last game. Toppmeyer questions the justification for Texas Tech's high ranking, mainly due to their 28-26 win against Houston. He argues that neither Texas Tech nor Oregon are justifiable in the top 15 rankings.

Miami, ranked No. 7, was in danger of being eliminated from the playoff conversation after trailing against Notre Dame. The absence of key player Malachi Toney further weakened Miami's chances. However, the committee seems to be more critical of the entire ACC, except for Miami, which is fortunate to not be ranked lower.

On the other hand, Toppmeyer praises Boise State as the most underrated team, ranking them No. 24. The Broncos' 8-1 record, including a 34-27 victory against Oregon, demonstrate their strength. The committee's decision to place Oregon at No. 16 may be unjustified, as the Ducks were missing their star player Dante Moore at the time.

Finally, Brice argues that the New Mexico Lobos, with an 8-1 record, should be ranked in the top 25. The Lobos allow fewer than 11 points per game and have only scored 11 touchdowns in 36 quarters of football. While he doesn't advocate for New Mexico's immediate inclusion in the field of 12, he believes they deserve better consideration in future rankings.