The College Football Playoff selection panel has shown a strong preference for the top teams from the Big Ten this November.

The initial CFP rankings set the stage for the Big Ten to secure four of the 12 playoff spots, with several teams ranked high enough to host first-round playoff games.

Representing the Big Ten are Oregon at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 2, Penn State at No. 6, and Indiana at No. 8, which means half of the top eight slots in the CFP rankings are held by these teams.

Here are my top five thoughts on these rankings.

CFP Committee Prioritizes Performance Over Resume

It’s challenging to justify Texas sitting at No. 5 except for the fact that they had a strong start to the season, largely based on how they looked on the field, despite having faced easier competition. Texas boasts a wealth of talent on both sides, but they have shown weaknesses in the last two games against Georgia and Vanderbilt. Additionally, their schedule strength is not on par with that of Penn State and Tennessee, both of whom also have one loss. Nevertheless, the committee ranked Texas higher than both and ahead of undefeated BYU, indicating a preference for the Longhorns’ strong early-season performance.

Similarly, undefeated Indiana received favorable treatment from the committee even though they have the weakest schedule among the currently ranked teams. The Hoosiers are not simply winning; they’re dominating their opponents.

Their current ranking suggests they could potentially lose to Ohio State later this month and still make it to the playoffs, provided it isn’t a blowout loss.

BYU’s Exclusion Hits Hard for the Big 12

The ACC and Big 12 are both at risk of being reduced to single-bid leagues, although the ACC might still secure two spots.

If SMU, currently ranked No. 13, wins out, they will secure the ACC’s automatic bid, and the committee’s rankings position No. 4 Miami for an at-large bid.

Unfortunately, the Big 12 has not fared as well.

BYU sits at No. 9, making it the only team from the Big 12 in the top 16.

If BYU wins the Big 12 championship, they are likely to remain a one-bid league. However, if they lose in the championship game, they may find themselves just outside the playoff bubble, limiting the Big 12’s opportunities.

The committee has not given BYU fair treatment. They play well-rounded football, ranking among the top 25 teams nationally for both scoring offense and scoring defense.

They are the only team to defeat SMU and did so on the road.

Additionally, BYU has also beaten Kansas State, winning that matchup by a significant margin.

Despite a similar strength of schedule to Texas, which lost at home to Georgia, BYU is ranked four spots lower. They are also placed one position behind Indiana, who has faced an easier schedule.

“Indiana’s strength of schedule doesn’t match BYU’s, but the committee favored Indiana due to their convincing double-digit victories,” explained Warde Manuel, chairman of the CFP committee, on ESPN.

Manuel was directly asked about the ranking discrepancy between No. 4 Miami and BYU.

“It ultimately came down to the eye test for us,” he affirmed.

This indicates that style points are significant, and the committee does not appear to be impressed with BYU or the Big 12.

Big Ten and SEC Are Well-Positioned for the Playoffs

The Big Ten and SEC are set up nicely, each potentially securing four playoff spots.

Only Ohio State and Indiana from the Big Ten are scheduled to play against each other, and the early rankings give either team some leeway. A loss in their matchup may not eliminate them from playoff contention.

Seven SEC teams are among the top 16. The committee faces a challenging decision about which teams to select from the SEC.

The situation will be more complicated if Ole Miss, currently ranked No. 16, manages to upset Georgia on Saturday. Such a win could potentially lead to as many as six SEC teams having playoff consideration, with little separation between them.

Boise State Receives Some Recognition

The committee has shown some respect for Boise State by ranking them No. 12, recognizing the Group of Five team. However, one might argue that the Broncos deserved a slightly higher position.

Boise State has impressive victories over No. 21 Washington State and UNLV, and they nearly defeated Oregon in a close 37-34 contest earlier in the season.

The Broncos are currently in a good spot for the Group of Five’s playoff bid, and if BYU loses while Boise State wins their remaining games, they could potentially improve their playoff position and secure a first-round bye.

Byes are typically granted to the top four conference champions.

According to these rankings, it’s not guaranteed that the Big 12 will secure any of the byes.

Criteria for obtaining an at-large playoff spot

Considering their performance history, upcoming matches, and a look into the committee’s perspectives, I believe the cutline stands at No. 16.

If you are part of the Power Four and are ranked No. 16 or higher, you still have a shot at an at-large bid. In contrast, teams ranked 17th or lower will likely need to win their conference title to qualify. This excludes one-loss teams like Pittsburgh and Iowa State, as well as two-loss teams such as Kansas State and Clemson.