Ahead of the first reveal by the College Football Playoff Committee on Tuesday night, the opinion shapers in college football have vastly different, even head-scratching evaluations of Top 25 teams and their strengths. Maybe the game needs a 36-team playoff to sort it out (not really.)
For example, in the AP Poll 6-3 Tennessee is still ranked No. 23 despite having no wins against opponents with a winning record, while 6-2 Iowa is not, even though the Hawkeyes blasted 5-3 Minnesota 41-3. Their only losses have been a 16-13 squeaker in Week 2 versus Iowa State, and a 20-15 loss in the last minute to 7-0, No. 2 Indiana.
With the No. 2 defense in the country and dangerous special teams, Iowa deserves a Top 25 ranking, one of the toughest outs in the Big Ten, particularly in Kinnick Stadium.
At Duck Sports Central, Scott Reed wrote today, "Kinnick in November is a truth serum. It strips teams down to what they really are: disciplined or distracted, patient or panicked."
Kinnick is a crucible for Oregon's playoff hopes. Phil Parker's defense allows just 84 yards a game and 2.6 yards per carry. Will Stein has to figure out a way to solve it.
The AP Poll is catching up to the Big Ten with 6 teams ranked. But still refusing to rank Iowa while Tennessee has 3 losses and ZERO wins over teams with even a winning record.
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) November 2, 2025
Make it make sense. Also… What has Missouri shown? pic.twitter.com/RNXjumCat0
If the playoffs started today, five of the 12 teams would come from the SEC, and 6-2 Texas would be the first team out. No. 8 BYU travels to No. 9 Texas Tech this weekend. Virginia remains in line to get the bid out of the ACC with just three regular season games remaining.
No. 10 Notre Dame hosts 7-1, unranked Navy with the Midshipmen trying to stay alive for that Group of Five slot, battling Tulane, North Texas, South Florida and James Madison.
Meanwhile, ESPN's FPI elevates Oregon all the way to No. 3 while proposing such howlers as Penn State and Florida in the Top 25, both with losing records.
There has never been a more trash measure of college football ratings or rankings than ESPN FPI. pic.twitter.com/v0Huy77YtX
— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) November 3, 2025
When the College Football Playoff Committee airs their hype show Tuesday night (no ranking counts until the last one) officially the criteria include strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference champions, and outcomes against common opponents.
No one truly believes the Committee watches a lot of film or starts from scratch. Like everyone else they rely on perception and existing tools. Rankings and FPI ratings shape perceived strength of schedule and influence which opponents stand out as "quality wins."
For the Ducks and everyone else, the games they remember are played in November. A lot of this will be settled on the field. But right now the hype and the reputations are making a mess of the debate.