Two-time defending national champion Georgia isn’t viewed as the best team in the nation entering November.
Ohio State (8-0) was the No. 1 squad in the initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season, unveiled Tuesday night at Grapevine, Texas.
Georgia (8-0), which owns the nation’s longest-active winning streak at 25 games, was selected No. 2.
No. 3 Michigan (8-0) and No. 4 Florida State (8-0) were the other teams to land a top-four spot in the first look at the four-team playoff.
The Bulldogs defeated Ohio State 42-41 in last season’s CFP semifinals.
But the Buckeyes are looking the best now in the eyes of the selection committee. Ohio State has recorded five victories by 20 or more points this season.
The biggest test comes Nov. 25 when Ohio State visits Michigan in a Big Ten showdown.
No. 5 Washington (8-0) and No. 6 Oregon (7-1) of the Pac-12 were the first two teams out. Washington handed the Ducks their lone loss.
Texas (7-1) is No. 7 with Alabama (7-1), Oklahoma (7-1) and Ole Miss (7-1) rounding out the Top 10.
Penn State (7-1) is No. 11, followed by Missouri (7-1), Louisville (7-1), LSU (6-2) and Notre Dame (7-2).
Oregon State (6-2) is No. 16 with fellow Pac-12 teams Utah (No. 18, 6-2), UCLA (No. 19, 6-2) and Southern California (No. 20, 7-2) close behind. Tennessee (6-2) is No. 17.
Big 12 teams are Nos. 21-23 — Kansas, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, each 6-2.
Tulane (7-1) of the American Athletic Conference is No. 24 and Air Force (8-0) of the Mountain West is No. 25. They are the two highest-ranked non-power conference teams in the battle for a New Year’s Six bowl game.
–Field Level Media