1) At the end of a season, does anyone care what rank a team has? It seems most people are far more obsessed with pre, early, mid and late season rankings than final rankings. Real question - do you care?

2) I could probably Google this, but I can't Google your answers, which are more interesting to me anyway.
Are the teams who make the playoff an automatic lock for the end of season ranking in the top 4? Meaning, if the playoff were to begin today, would Bama, Michigan, Clemson and Washington be the only ones in contention for the top four end of season rankings?

3) If we go 11-1 and win our bowl game, is it possible to end up in the top 4?

Thank you so much. I am so excited to hear your answers.

Depends on what rankings you are referencing.

The final CFP rankings are done before the CFP begins. Ohio State won the title in 2014, but they were #4 in the final CFP rankings.

The AP on the other hand does a end of season rankings -- where Ohio State was #1, and TCU -- who didn't make the CFP -- was #3.

1) I do. I might be in the minority.

2) Already answered perfectly.

3) Yes, we might.

Perfect. Thanks to you all.

Even Aggiebrewer.

IMO if you do not make the playoff you should be playing for 5th in the final ranking.

The rankings end the same way they're dealt with during the season. Rarely does a team drop during a win, so you can assume the top 2 are going to come from the top 4, depending on who wins. The next 2 depend on how badly the losers lose.

Do those rankings matter? Some, but not much. People care about pre-season and middle season rankings because they are a gauge of how close/far you are from the Playoff, but once the Playoff is set there's no progress left to be made.

#6 going up against #1 in week 7 means you're likely to jump into the Playoff slot if you win. #6 at the end of the season is a gold star/a helmet sticker. Doesn't mean much.

Aggiebrewer said:

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If you ain't 1st...your last

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That doesn't make any sense at all, you can be second, third, fourth hell you can even be fifth.

Ian

I have a question for you









Christine Michael?

Christine Michael makes me sad to be me. He is awesome. I am not. But someday, I might be.

But not if I keep doubting CMIKE.

Props to him forever, and may God have mercy on my soul.

Of course the end of year AP rankings matter. They are a great measiring stick for the year the team had. Finishing ranked is an accomplishment.


Pre-season rankings probably matter for generating hype and getting recruits onto campus.