CFP Committee Chair Explains Ohio State Topping Indiana, TAMU in 1st Playoff Rankings

Ohio State is still king of the college football world.

The reigning national champions checked in at No. 1 in this season's first College Football Playoff rankings when they were released Tuesday. While undefeated Texas A&M and Indiana also had a case to sit atop the rankings, CFP committee chair Mack Rhoades explained why the group went with the Buckeyes.

"We had robust discussion about the three of them," he said during an interview on ESPN (1:45 mark). "Obviously, all three are undefeated. ... We really felt like that Ohio State and Indiana were close. When you look at the statistical data, both offensively and defensively, these are two teams that are both in the top five offensively, and in the top five defensively. Both with really good wins.

"... But again, when we looked at tape, and we looked at metrics, we felt that Ohio State was a little bit better up front, on the offensive line. And we thought they were better defensively."

At this point of the season, it is splitting hairs to compare the Buckeyes, Hoosiers and Aggies.

According to ESPN's metrics, Texas A&M has the No. 1 strength of record. However, Indiana and Ohio State are right behind at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. 

But it is the Buckeyes who sit atop the game-control rankings, while the Hoosiers are No. 2 and the Aggies are No. 5. They also all have ranked wins with Ohio State beating Texas and Washington, Indiana defeating Oregon and Iowa, and Texas A&M beating Notre Dame. 

Rhoades' comments made it seem like the eye test worked in the Buckeyes' favor, which is unsurprising since they have some of the biggest superstars in the sport in Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese and have cruised past teams since the season-opening win over the SEC's Longhorns.

Texas Longhorns - Ohio State Buckeyes Highlights

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This will work itself out over the course of the season.

If Ohio State and Indiana remain undefeated, they will face each other in what will be a highly anticipated Big Ten championship game. The winner will likely earn the No. 1 seed in the 12-team CFP field, while Texas A&M still controls its own destiny in the race for one of the first-round byes that go to the four highest-ranked teams in the final poll.

The Aggies also face a stiff road test Saturday against No. 22 Missouri, which will give them an opportunity to make a statement ahead of the next set of rankings.

Ultimately, these are just the first set of rankings that set the stage for what is to come. Even Ohio State head coach Ryan Day himself told reporters Tuesday he wasn't going to watch the rankings show because all that matters at this time of year is winning.

And he has done plenty of that, which is why the Buckeyes are No. 1.