Google trend - CFP rankings

The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are a system used to determine the top four teams in college football at the end of the regular season. These rankings play a crucial role in determining which teams will compete in the College Football Playoff, a four-team tournament that ultimately crowns the national champion.

The CFP rankings are released by a selection committee consisting of 13 members, including former coaches, players, athletic directors, and administrators. This committee is responsible for evaluating and ranking the teams based on their performance throughout the season.

The committee begins its work in October and releases its first set of rankings in early November. These initial rankings are used as a starting point and are updated every week leading up to the final rankings in early December. The committee considers a variety of factors when evaluating teams, including strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and overall performance.

One of the most important factors in the CFP rankings is strength of schedule. The committee takes into account the difficulty of a team's opponents and how well they performed against them. Teams that have faced tough opponents and have performed well are more likely to be ranked higher than teams with weaker schedules.

Head-to-head results also play a significant role in the rankings. If two teams have played each other during the season, the outcome of that game is given a lot of weight in determining their rankings. The committee considers not only the win-loss record but also the margin of victory and overall performance in that game.

Conference championships are another important factor in the CFP rankings. Teams that have won their respective conference championships are typically given higher consideration. Winning a conference championship demonstrates a team's ability to perform under pressure and against top competition within their conference.

Overall performance throughout the season is also evaluated by the committee. This includes factors such as scoring margin, quality wins against ranked opponents, and consistency in performance. Teams that have consistently performed well and have impressive victories are more likely to receive higher rankings.

The final rankings released by the committee in early December determine which teams will participate in the College Football Playoff. The top four teams in the rankings are selected as the playoff participants, with the top two teams receiving a bye and the remaining two teams competing in a semifinal game. The winners of the semifinal games then face off in the national championship game.

The CFP rankings have been in place since the 2014 season and have brought a new level of excitement and anticipation to college football. They provide a transparent and systematic way of determining the best teams in the country and allow for a fair and competitive playoff format.

In conclusion, the CFP rankings are a crucial element in college football. They are determined by a selection committee that evaluates teams based on their strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and overall performance. These rankings determine the participants in the College Football Playoff, which ultimately crowns the national champion. The CFP rankings have brought a new level of excitement and fairness to the sport, allowing for a more competitive and transparent postseason.