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Yes, Alabama’s College Football Playoff ranking is absurd, but one team got royally screwed by the committee
The first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings have drawn criticism, particularly for placing two-loss Alabama fifth despite a recent defeat to Tennessee. The article argues that Wake Forest has been more unfairly overlooked, raising questions about how consistently the committee judges teams across conferences.
Wake Forest is ranked 16th after winning its last four games by a combined 156 points, though its only major win, according to the article, is against Louisville. The piece compares the Demon Deacons with LSU, ranked two places higher despite one more loss and, it says, no major wins; it also questions the strength of Miami’s schedule, while noting Miami beat Wake Forest.
In short
- Alabama’s fifth-place ranking has prompted criticism.
- Wake Forest sits 16th after four wins by 156 points.
- The article questions the committee’s consistency across teams.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The committee can reasonably weigh the full season, schedule strength and quality wins rather than recent margins alone. Wake Forest’s strong run is notable, but its résumé has limited major victories, and Miami’s win over Wake Forest gives the Hurricanes a direct comparison in their favour.
The case against
Wake Forest’s four emphatic wins make its 16th-place ranking look unduly dismissive, especially alongside LSU, which has an extra loss and, according to the article, no major wins. If the committee rewards some teams despite weaker results, it should explain how it applies the same standards across conferences.
Explained simply
The College Football Playoff decides which US college teams compete for the national championship. A selection committee ranks teams and chooses who gets into the playoff, weighing factors such as wins, defeats and the strength of opponents. Because teams play different schedules across several conferences, comparing their records is not always straightforward.
Alabama, Wake Forest, LSU and Miami are all competing for places in the playoff picture. Wake Forest is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the others play in different conferences; teams may face very different levels of competition during the season. The rankings matter because a team’s position can affect whether it reaches the championship, and the committee’s choices are closely scrutinised.