Five programs the selection committee misranked in their first poll.
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TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (OVERRATED)
Initial playoff poll ranking: No. 17
This is about three or four spots too high for the Volunteers, who haven't yet beaten a team currently ranked inside the top 25, but do have a couple wins over squads above .500. The loss at Florida sticks out, as does squandering a multi-touchdown halftime lead at Alabama. Per usual, the committee appears to be looking at the SEC in a favorable light despite this season being below standards across the league.
The No. 17 number is significant for Tennessee because no team from outside of the top 16 has ever reached the playoff. That being said, Josh Heupel can preach to his players that all of their season-long goals are still out in front of them with matchups against nationally-ranked Missouri and Georgia remaining in conference play. If Tennessee wins both of those games, Florida loses another and Missouri beats Georgia this weekend, the Vols would clinch the East by winning out. How crazy would that be for Heupel and his crew?
USC TROJANS (OVERRATED)
Initial playoff poll ranking: No. 20
USC has no wins over top 25 competition, one victory over an opponent with a winning record and its defense is ranked 114th nationally in yards allowed and 113th in scoring defense. Playoff chair Boo Corrigan wasn't asked about the committee's thoughts on the Trojans from ESPN during Tuesday's reveal show, but he would've likely said something about Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley's explosive offense outscoring the opposition. The truth is, this team has struggled mightily defensively this fall and in one of their biggest games to date, the reigning Heisman winner tossed three interceptions. USC, at least right now, isn't deserving of a spot in the top 20.