By The first unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings is in the books, and there was some head-scratching that followed.
A notable cause of that was the CFP selection committee ranking two-loss Alabama as the No. 5 seed in the 12-team bracket.
"Everyone is surprised," ESPN's Joey Galloway said on Alabama's seeding on the network's show.
∎ USA TODAY Sports provided live reaction from tonight's College Football Playoff rankings reveal. Join Blake Toppmeyer and John Brice for their instant analysis on the CFP's first top 25:
The reason the Crimson Tide's specific seeding is a head-scratcher is that Alabama was ranked ahead of a one-loss Kentucky squad, which Keelon Russell and Co. defeated back in Week 2, and eight spots ahead of a Tennessee team that rolled the team over, 26-10, just a few weeks ago.
To put the decision from the committee into further perspective, USA TODAY Sports' Matt Hayes had the Crimson Tide as his No. 9 team in his CFP bracket projection heading into Tuesday. In that same projection, the Crimson Tide was ranked behind Texas — which has two top-10 wins at home against then-No. 1 Ohio State and then-No. 7 Mississippi, in addition to a road win at Tennessee. The committee had the Longhorns at No. 7 in the bracket.
The crew's reaction to the CFP committee ranking 6-2 Alabama at No. 5 👀 pic.twitter.com/feauff5ov8
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 4, 2026
CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained Alabama's ranking after the rankings were revealed.
"You look first that Alabama went on the road and beat a team that we have six this week in Kentucky. They also beat South Carolina, who is ranked in the top 25, and I think many forget that they went on the road and beat Mississippi State when Mississippi State was undefeated and at full strength," Yurachek said. "We really valued that as a strong win for Alabama back there in the early part of the season when Mississippi State had that quarterback (Kamario Taylor) who was very, very good. Mississippi State was on a roll at that time."
Yurachek noted that Tennessee doesn't have the same number of quality wins as Alabama, despite having the head-to-head over the Crimson Tide. He also noted that Alabama got the head-to-head advantage against Kentucky because the Crimson Tide and Wildcats were in the same "pod" by the committee. (Alabama and Tennessee, notably, were not).
The Crimson Tide's ranking, to no surprise, caused plenty of reactions on social media throughout the college football world. Here's a snippet of the reactions:
College football reacts to Alabama's CFP ranking
The 1st CFP rankings are WILD.
Alabama at #5, EIGHT spots ahead of a 2-loss Tennessee team that beat them?!
Texas at #7 with the BEST resume of any 2-loss team?
Notre Dame at #11 means one more loss and they’re OUT.
And we already setting up a 3-loss Alabama/Texas to get IN??
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) November 4, 2026
Alabama is No. 5 in the first CFP ranking. Hard to say anyone saw that coming.
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) November 4, 2026
Death, taxes, and the committee loving Alabama 🐘
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 4, 2026
Well, the message is clear: The committee loves the SEC and hates everyone else.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 4, 2026
Stop me if you’ve heard this before:
The committee is overvaluing Alabama.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 4, 2026
Someone once referred to the CFP as the “Alabama Invitational” and it still holds up
— Tyler (@t_hohenshelt) November 4, 2026
Alabama being ranked #5 in the country is a JOKE from the CFP Committee 😑
— Jacob Goins (@Goins2Jacob) November 4, 2026
This puts Alabama in a really good spot to make the CFP win or lose in Baton Rouge. Very interesting https://t.co/wKf4gg28qd
— SPG (@SPG9814) November 4, 2026
Two-loss Alabama and two-loss Texas come in ranked #5 and #7 in the initial CFP Rankings.
Strength of schedule is certainly being factored in this season.
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) November 4, 2026
One clear takeaway from the CFB Playoff rankings: The committee LOVES the SEC's SOS.
Alabama, Ole Miss & Texas with 2 losses all ranked ahead of 1-loss teams like Notre Dame, Texas Tech and Wake Forest.
This is a year where a 3-loss SEC playoff team is very much in play.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) November 4, 2026
Tennessee being 8 spots behind Alabama is this year's version of Notre Dame being ahead of Miami in last year's initial ranking.
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 4, 2026
Alabama’s 5 previous games going into a road trip against Tennessee…
@ No. 6 Kentucky
Florida State
No. 21 South Carolina
@ Mississippi State (w/Kamario Taylor)
No. 2 GeorgiaA lot tougher of a run than many were expecting.
— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) November 4, 2026
CFP initial rankings thoughts? Mine immediately Alabama is in with 3 losses..
Yours??— Rusty Mansell (@RustyMansell_) November 4, 2026
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama's CFP ranking stuns college football world: 'JOKE from the CFP committee'
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alabamas-cfp-ranking-stuns-college-013353324.html
