D Poll: Week 16 (2024)
Ranking the top 25 in college football, one wacky result at a time.
I really wish I were on the College Football Playoff committee. It would be so much fun to watch all the games (something I already do), compare each team's résumé, and then put together a final ranking that could potentially change the entire landscape of the sport. It sounds like such a pleasant and stress-free job. Of course, in reality, it isn't. I fully acknowledge that what the committee has to undertake every week, particularly with the final ranking this past Sunday, is incredibly difficult. Most of the committee members do not have all the time in the world to pore over game film and statistics like a good chunk of the college football-watching public does.
Of course, completing the D Poll is much easier than being a part of the CFP committee. All I do is sit at my desk, rank 25 college football teams quickly (sometimes it’s an easy task, sometimes it takes two hours), and then send it out to the world. The committee, however, has much more to consider. Their rankings have real-world consequences, the most significant of which is deciding who will have the opportunity to compete for a national championship. That’s a lot of pressure! Whether you like them or not, the burden they bear is substantial. Even so, I think they did a good job with their final rankings! I know, it’s shocking. I’m the chairman of the "Get Rid of the CFP Committee Club," but this time, they nailed it. Every team I would have included made the cut. It’s a modern miracle.
In case you missed it, here was how the final ranking shook out on Sunday afternoon:
In my opinion, it shook out the way I thought it should have. Part of me thought they'd remove SMU in favor of Alabama, but they didn't, and I think it was the right call. For more of my thoughts on the bracket, there's an episode of Seth's College Football Corner right here on this Substack that I recorded on Sunday with my good friend and Bleav in TCU host Zion Trammel. Go check that out.
Of course, completing the D Poll is a much easier task than being a part of the CFP committee. All I do is sit at my desk, rank 25 college football teams real fast (sometimes it’s an easy endeavor, sometimes it takes two hours), and then send it out to the world. The committee has so much more to consider. There are real-world consequences to the rankings they release. The most glaring is that they are deciding who will have the opportunity to win a national championship. That’s a lot of pressure! Like them or hate them, the burden they’ve been given is great.
This week's D Poll was the easiest in some time. With only nine games to consider when ranking the teams, everything was more straightforward. Here's the D Poll for Week 16.
1. Oregon (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten)
Week 15 game: 45-37 win vs. Penn State
2. Georgia (11-2, 6-2 SEC)
Week 15 game: 22-19 win vs. Texas
3. Notre Dame (11-1)
Week 15 game: OFF
4. Penn State (11-2, 8-1 Big Ten)
Week 15 game: 45-37 loss vs. Oregon
5. Texas (11-2, 7-1 SEC)
Week 15 game: 22-19 loss vs. Georgia
6. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten)
Week 15 game: OFF
7. Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC)
Week 15 game: OFF
8. Indiana (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)
Week 15 game: OFF
9. Arizona State (11-2, 7-2 Big 12)
Week 15 game: 45-19 win vs. Iowa State
10. Boise State (12-1, 7-0 Mountain West)
Week 15 game: 21-7 win vs. UNLV
11. SMU (11-2, 8-0 ACC)
Week 15 game: 34-31 loss vs. Clemson
12. Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
Week 15 game: OFF
13. South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
Week 15 game: OFF
14. Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
Week 15 game: OFF
15. Clemson (10-3, 7-1 ACC)
Week 15 game: 34-31 win vs. SMU
16. Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC)
Week 15 game: OFF
17. BYU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12)
Week 15 game: OFF
18. Iowa State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12)
Week 15 game: 45-19 loss vs. Arizona State
19. Army (11-1, 8-0 American)
Week 15 game: 35-14 win vs. Tulane
20. Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten)
Week 15 game: OFF
21. Colorado (9-3, 7-2 Big 12)
Week 15 game: OFF
22. Syracuse (9-3, 5-3 ACC)
Week 15 game: OFF
23. UNLV (10-3, 6-1 Mountain West)
Week 15 game: 21-7 loss vs. Boise State
24. Memphis (10-2, 6-2 American)
Week 15 game: OFF
25. Baylor (8-4, 6-3 Big 12)
Week 15 game: OFF
Teams in consideration: Texas A&M, Duke, Louisville, Ohio, TCU, Kansas State
Here's what the playoff bracket would look like if it was based on the D Poll (conference champions are in bold):
1. Oregon (Big Ten)
2. Georgia (SEC)
3. Arizona State (Big 12)
4. Boise State (Mountain West)
5. Notre Dame (Independent)
6. Penn State (Big Ten)
7. Texas (SEC)
8. Ohio State (Big Ten)
9. Tennessee (SEC)
10. Indiana (Big Ten)
11. SMU (ACC)
12. Clemson (ACC)
The only difference between my bracket and the committee's is the seeding of the teams. I believe the right 12 teams got in, but I'd have Arizona State slotted above Boise State, and Notre Dame ahead of Penn State and Texas.
This will be the final D Poll until after the national championship game. Once we determine who the crown jewel of the 2024-25 college football season is, it'll be time to bring out the D Poll one final time.