CFP Final Poll -- How committee filled last two playoff spots
By Frank Cooney, NFL Draft Scout, The Sports Xcjhange
Nov 26, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes on the sidelines during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
We knew which teams would be at No. 1 and No. 2 when the College Football Playoff committee announced participants in this year's semifinals.
Georgia, after dominating LSU in the SEC championship game, stayed at No. 1, where it was parked for four previous weeks. Michigan fought off a feisty Purdue to win its second consecutive Big Ten title and will be seeded second.
But the next two spots were tricky
There were unexpected results on the final weekend. TCU and Southern California were third and fourth before losing their championship games.
It was the first loss for the Horned Frogs, in overtime to No. 10 Kansas State - a team it previously beat. Regardless, the Horned Frogs were rewarded for their unbeaten run through the Big 12 with a No. 3 seed.
USC didn't fare as well. A second loss to Utah cost the Trojans the Pac-12 championship and opened the door for another team.
Enter Ohio State, which didn't play Saturday after losing to Michigan last week but still moved up to that prized No. 4 position.
And there you have it.
Alabama, which was hoping to be elevated into the semifinals after being sixth last week, fell short due to its two losses and lack of quality wins. The Crimson Tide were fifth in the final rankings. Tennessee, another SEC team with two losses, was sixth.
With the seeds set, Georgia and Ohio State were assigned to play in the Peach Bowl. Michigan and TCU will face off in the Fiesta Bowl.
The rest of the New Year's Six matchups were set later in the day.
ACC champion Clemson heads to the Orange Bowl against Tennessee.
Big 12 champion Kansas State will face of with Alabama - the SEC's top-ranked, non-playoff team in the Sugar Bowl.
Pac-12 champion Utah clashes with Big Ten representative Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
Tulane, the highest-ranked champion in the Group of Five, earns the opening in the Cotton Bowl and will be joined by Southern California.
Final College Football Playoff committee Top 25
1. Georgia (13-0)
2. Michigan (13-0)
3. TCU (12-1)
4. Ohio State (11-1)
5. Alabama (10-2)
6. Tennessee (10-2)
7. Clemson (11-2)
8. Utah (10-3)
9. Kansas State (10-3)
10. Southern California (11-2)
11. Penn State (10-2)
12. Washington (10-2)
13. Florida State (9-3)
14. Oregon State (9-3)
15. Oregon (9-3)
16. Tulane (11-2)
17. LSU (9-4)
18. UCLA (9-3)
19. South Carolina (8-4)
20. Texas (8-4)
21. Notre Dame (8-4)
22. Mississippi State (8-4)
23. North Carolina State (8-4)
24. Troy (11-2)
25. Texas San-Antonio (11-2)
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