The first CFP rankings of the season are coming Tuesday. Here's what to know

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Tuesday marks the beginning the College Football Playoff rankings. Who makes the cut, and who is still hoping for an invitation? Before we get to that, let's look at how they were impacted Saturday.

Rocky Top was electric on Saturday, Nov. 1 for the Tennessee/Oklahoma game. But the Vols couldn’t get out of their own way, losing 33-27. Three turnovers, one for a 71-yard touchdown return, poor tackling and four field goals by Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell (three over 50 yards) was the difference. Still, the energy and the traditions in Knoxville are simply unmatched and worth the trip. Only a miracle can get them into the CFP now.

Same with Miami who gave it away against SMU (26-20) when quarterback Carson Beck, otherwise known as the $4 million man, threw an interception in OT and SMU sealed it with a touchdown. Beck has not been the same quarterback he was two years ago at Georgia. He had good numbers last year but threw 12 interceptions. That has carried over and he was visibly frustrated during the game, a clear sign their team is imploding with their CFP chances now on life support. The lesson here – Let the buyer beware.

Auburn’s embarrassing 10-3 home loss to Kentucky meant coach Hugh Freeze had to go immediately. As predicted, No. 9 Georgia Tech was finally exposed and brought back to reality by NC State, 48-36. The team yielded an incredible 583 total yards to the Wolfpack, implying the Yellow Jackets were not worthy of CFP consideration in the first place. The revelation just came earlier than I expected. Next up – Brigham Young.

Baffling Buffaloes

By the way, what is going on in Boulder? Coach Prime’s Buffs (3-6) were blown out again by Arizona, 52-17 after last week’s 53-7 loss to Utah. He refused to allow his team or coaches to talk to the media after the game and brashly proclaimed, he doesn’t know what’s wrong but “it’s on me.“ And “I don’t doubt me. Let’s get that straight. I don’t doubt me. So, next question." Really? We love Sanders here. He’s a Hall of Fame player, a great motivator and an entertainer extraordinaire. But the jury’s still out on his coaching skills and his shtick gets old fast when the results are an overwhelming disaster. Now that Travis Hunter and his children are gone, it may be time to return to the studio where he’s off the charts. Yes, Coach Sanders, I’m doubting you but hoping I’m wrong.

∎Duke’s win at Clemson (3-5), 46-45 was so humiliating, Coach Swinney appeared to be unhinged on the sideline after a pass interference call on 4th-and-10 extended the Blue Devils game-winning drive. The reality is it should never have been that close. Swinney’s lost the locker room. His press conference was another advertisement for his immediate dismissal, stating (he) “might get fired today.” He’s owed $60 million but it’s clear his time is finished at Clemson unless the Tigers are willing to accept more of the same going forward. The only question is how to make it a soft landing for the godfather of Clemson football?

Predicting the first CFP of the season

CFP rankings are announced Tuesday for the first time this season, and here’s what I expect.

No. 1 Ohio State (8-0), No. 2 Indiana (8-0), No. 3 Texas A&M (8-0), No. 4 Alabama (7-1), No. 5 Georgia (7-1), No. 6 Oregon (7-1), No. 7 Mississippi (7-1), No. 8 Brigham Young (8-0), No. 9 Texas Tech (7-1), No. 10 Virginia (7-1), No. 11 Notre Dame (6-2 overall).

Memphis would be the 12th team being the highest-ranked team not in the Power Four.

Texas Tech plays BYU this week so one team would be out of the Top 12, meaning there’s others with legitimate hope (Texas, Vandy, Oklahoma, USC, and Mizzou). Expect the ACC and Big 12 champions to receive only the automatic CFP berth. While parity is the appropriate word to describe this season, it is consolidated in the SEC and the upper echelon of the Big Ten.

Maybe the great St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca had it right when he said, “Let them all in!"

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ken Schreiber predicts the first CFP rankings of the season

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