The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season revealed a significant shift in the national championship picture, with the SEC placing five teams in the top 11 while the Big Ten and Big 12 each have only two teams in playoff position.
Alabama, Kentucky and Texas occupy the fifth through seventh spots, highlighting the committee's strong regard for the SEC. Meanwhile, Ohio State fell to 12th after its loss to USC, leaving the Buckeyes with no margin for error. Notre Dame sits 11th and must prove its worth against top-ranked Miami this weekend.
The rankings have prompted a recalibration of national title odds. Georgia remains the favorite at +330, while Notre Dame dropped from +470 to +550 despite a win over Navy. SEC teams saw their odds shorten: LSU moved from +1000 to +750, Texas from +1400 to +1100, Alabama from +1100 to +1000, Ole Miss from +2000 to +1600, and Kentucky from +8000 to +6000. Ohio State tumbled from +500 to +1400, and Indiana slipped from +850 to +1000 after another overtime escape.
Undefeated teams Utah and UCLA continue to sit well outside the top tier of contenders according to oddsmakers.
