College Football Playoff Rankings: Oregon, Texas, Boise State, Alabama, SMU Controversy

Final College Football Playoff rankings. The Oregon Ducks are No. 1 and will play in the Rose Bowl. The Boise State Broncos receive a first-round bye over the Clemson Tigers. SMU Mustangs are in over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oregon's opponent is the winnner of the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes game.

Dec 7, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning celebrates defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions to win the Big Ten Championship in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images / Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

With the end of conference championship games, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee released the final version of its rankings on Sunday. The No. 1 Oregon Ducks beat the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championship Game, and the Ducks are the No. 1 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The Ducks will await the winner of No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Tennessee to face them in the Rose Bowl Game.

The real controversy within the final CFP rankings surrounds the seeding of Boise State. The Broncos are the No. 3 seed in the playoff, with only one loss to Oregon. The final four is rounded out by Arizona State at No. 4 after winning the Big 12 Championship Game.

The big debate around SMU and Alabama was whether the Mustangs will be punished for losing the ACC Championship Game. In the end, SMU stays in while the Crimson Tide are on the outside looking in.

Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James (20) runs into the end one for a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game between the Oregon Ducks and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The first two teams outside of the 12-team playoff are No. 13 Alabama and No. 14 Miami.

In the ACC Championship Game, the No. 8 SMU Mustangs lost to No. 17 Clemson, 34-31. As a result, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers secured an automatic bid into the 12-team playoff field. However, Clemson's ranking before the weekend was the lowest of any Power Four conference champions. The Tigers hold the 12th seed in the CFP.

Clemson is the lowest-ranked team to make the field, finishing the year ranked No. 16. Their conference championship gives them a spot in the postseason.

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Antonio Williams (0) runs against Southern Methodist Mustangs safety Ahmaad Moses (3) during the third quarter in the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Championship Game, securing a top-four seed in the postseason.

As Big Ten champions and the No. 1 seed, the Ducks are expected to play in the Rose Bowl Game in the second round of the CFP. After the win over Penn State, Oregon coach Dan Lanning shared his thoughts at the trophy ceremony.

"I'm just so proud of our team. We’ve had moments where our defense had the offenses back. Tonight, the offense had the defenses back. It was a battle back and forth. That’s a good football team. They’re tough to prepare for, but our guys had just enough. There was just enough time for us to take care of it, and to finish it like that, with that physicality, that’s what I love to see," said Lanning after the win.

Final College Football Playoff seeds and matchups:

1 Oregon

2 Georgia

3 Boise State

4 Arizona State

5 Texas vs. 12 Clemson

6 Penn State vs. 11 SMU

7 Notre Dame vs. 10 Indiana

8 Ohio State vs. 9 Tennessee

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