The Big Ten Conferences elite programs are at the top college football landscape heading into a critical stretch in November.
The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2024 season were released Tuesday evening The state of Oregon and Ohio as the top two teams. Penn State was also in the top 10 at No. 6.
While the The heavyweights of the Big Ten kept the conference afloat at the top, the Southeastern Conference’s depth proved its worth with four teams in the top 12 and eight teams total in the top 25. Georgia was seeded at No. 3, with conference newcomer Texas at No. 5. Tennessee (No. 7) and Alabama (No. 11) also landed in the CFP’s top rankings for the new 12-team playoff format.
Florida Gators lead over George Gumbs Jr. (34) pressures Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) during the first half at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL on Saturday, November 2, 2024. / Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Big Ten also included rising star Indiana at No. 8, with one of only three undefeated records in the CFP top ten. The Big 12’s BYU is also unblemished at No. 9. ACC leader Miami (No. 4), independent Notre Dame (No. 10) and Group of 5 leader Boise State (No. 12) round out the first 12 teams off.
The top twelve teams in the final season College Football Playoff rankings will be included in this year’s twelve-team playoffs. The top four ranked conference champions receive first-round byes, while the remaining spots are filled by the fifth-highest conference champion and the seven remaining top programs. In this week’s rankings, Oregon, Georgia, Miami and BYU would receive first-round byes.
The first round games would go as follows: Boise State at Ohio State, Alabama at Texas, Notre Dame at Penn State and Indiana at Tennessee.
The first CFP bracket projection showing the 12-team playoff era has been dropped pic.twitter.com/HXK3syhbEE
— ESPN (@espn) November 6, 2024
The remaining top-25 rankings include four ACC teams: No. 13 SMU, No. 18 Pittsburgh, No. 22 Louisville and No. 24 Missouri. The SEC also has No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 15 LSU and No. 16 Ole Miss in the middle pack, while No. 24 Missouri rounds out the final conference schedule. The Big 12 also features No. 17 Iowa State, No. 19 Kansas State and No. 20 Colorado.
Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke throws a pass during the third quarter of the game against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Army, undefeated at 8-0, is ranked No. 25. The Black Knights would need to surpass Boise State to be automatically selected as the fifth-highest ranked conference champion. Army has yet to defeat a ranked opponent. It plays Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium in New York on November 23.
The four first-round games will be played from December 20 to 21 on the home campus of the higher-seeded teams. The four quarterfinals will be played in the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls from December 31 to January. 1.
November 2, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken celebrates with his players after a 20-3 win against the Air Force Falcons at Michie Stadium. / Danny Wild-Imagn images
The two semi-finals will take place in the Orange and Cotton bowls on January 9 and 10.
The CFP National Championship is scheduled for January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
MORE: Big Ten Football Head Coach Hot Seat Index After Week 10
MORE: Nebraska football player arrested for suspected drunken driving
MORE: What does Dana Holgorsen bring to Nebraska’s offense?
MORE: Huskers Today, November 5, 2024
MORE: Adam Carriker on Dana Holgorsen, Marcus Satterfield and the Nebraska offense
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking it Nebraska Cornhuskers at SIsubscribe to HuskerMax on YouTubeand visiting HuskerMax.com daily.