Texas A&M ranked #4 in initial College Football Playoff poll

Texas A&M was ranked fourth in the initial 2016 College Football Playoff rankings which were released on Tuesday night.

The Aggies (7-1) are hoping to maintain that position to earn a place in the four-team playoff field to compete for the national championship.

The other top four as ranked by the CFP playoff selection committee are No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Michigan.

The remainder of the Top 10 was No. 5 Washington, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Louisville, No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 9 Auburn and No. 10 Nebraska.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta and Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Az., will host the playoff semifinals on Dec. 31.

The winners will advance to the national championship game in Tampa on Jan. 9.

Earlier on Tuesday, A&M coach Kevin Sumlin made it clear that he was not yet concerned with the CFB rankings. He said the Aggies’ only focus is preparing to face Mississippi State on Saturday.

The Aggies also have remaining games against Ole Miss, Texas-San Antonio and LSU.

“We don't change anything because of the rankings,” Sumlin said. “We don't have anything to do with it. All we can do is win the game in front of us. The media has no control over it. Why should we worry about it? We have to worry about winning Saturday.

“If we do that every week, there will be something good at the end. When the guys leave me, they have phones. People want to talk to them about it, but they've done a good job focusing. They've heard a lot of stuff about this program in the last year. If they listened to that, they wouldn't be where they are now.”

Some speculated A&M would be ranked between fifth and sixth, But A&M clearly was boosted by its strength of schedule.

The Aggies lone loss was to Alabama and they have a win over No. 9 Auburn.

Washington’s best win was over No. 16 Utah.

Louisville’s most impressive victory is over No. 22 Florida State. Ohio State’s best win is over No. 8 Wisconsin, but lost to No. 12 Penn State.

Louisville’s loss is to No. 2 Clemson.

However, some have argued Ohio State should be ranked ahead of A&M because the Buckeyes have two impressive wins. They also defeated No. 14 Oklahoma.

Four games remain for the Aggies. If they finish they can close the season with an 11-1 record they could their way into the playoff field.

Two years ago eventual national champion Ohio State was ranked 16th in the first CFB rankings.

Last year Michigan State and Oklahoma both were in the playoff even though neither was included among the top four of the first rankings.