Following a wild Saturday of championship games, final College Football Playoff rankings were promptly released Sunday, December 4th.

1. Alabama (13-0)
2. Clemson (12-1)
3. Ohio State (11-1)
4. Washington (12-1)

These rankings are based on strength of schedule, championships won, head-to-head competition (if any), and comparative outcomes of common opponents (regardless of margin of victory). The CFP Committee has been releasing weekly rankings leading up to this.

These rankings are controversial to say the least, specifically Ohio State. They are the first ever team to make the playoffs without being conference champions. Due to a heartbreaking loss to Penn State earlier in the season, they didn’t even win their division. Penn State did and made an unbelievable comeback to win the Big 10.

Penn State finished with an 11-2 record, champions of their conference, and some impressive wins, leading the Nittany Lions to believe they had a compelling argument to make the playoffs. The Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) also felt they deserved a playoff berth.

Even the Michigan Wolverines (10-2) felt they were an overall better team than the Washington Huskies. Michigan hails from the Big 10 conference which has been by far the toughest conference in the nation, while Washington comes from the PAC-12 which has been the weakest of power 5 conferences.

Ultimately, I believe the committee got the final four correct, but not necessarily the best four teams. I think Michigan, Oklahoma, and Penn State might be overall better teams than Washington or Clemson, but with conference championships and better records the committee had no choice That’s just how the playoffs work, it’s supposed to be the four best teams but they need to earn it too. So how did these teams get here?

4. Washington

Of the four playoff teams, Washington is the biggest surprise. The Huskies were ranked 14 in the preseason AP poll and quickly moved into the top ten after an opening day 48-17 win over Rutgers.

But they made their first national statement on a Friday night game against 7. Stanford. They bottled up the elusive Heisman-contender Christian McCaffrey as they steam rolled the Cardinals 44-6. The Huskies had routed their divisional rival who have been a powerhouse of the PAC-12.

For the first time in years Washington seemed like a conference contender, but they were thinking bigger.

Next they had a road game against their bitter rival Oregon whom they hadn’t beat in 12 straight years. They buried the Ducks 70-21 to prove they were no west coast fluke.

In college football, the strongest teams and competition is mostly considered to be on the east coast, specifically down South. West coast always battle the stereotype of being softer and unable to compete. Washington was continuously disrespected in polls all year. They needed to be perfect to make the playoffs

But they wouldn’t be perfect. They were shocked by a surging USC team in a 26-10 home loss where they really struggled. They dipped in the rankings but their odds of making playoffs free fell.

Even at 10-1 they hadn’t clinched the PAC-12 North. It would be decided on a road game on rivalry week against in-state rival 23. Washington State. The Cougars were a strong offensive team who were looking to play spoiler for the Huskies. But Washington controlled the game from start to finish in 45-17 victory.

The PAC-12 championship was set against 8. Colorado. The Huskies were looking for their first sole claim to the conference championship since 1991. Though Colorado was a strong opponent who was playing good at the right time, Washington pulled through 41-10. The solid win punched their ticket to their first playoff appearance, the only team in the field without a previous one.

3. The Ohio State

The Buckeyes have crashed this year’s playoff picture as the center of controversy. They’re the first ever playoff team not to be champions of their conference. Still though, with a team as talented them they deserved it.

After shipping off an abundance of talent to the NFL Ohio State was starting more inexperienced players than anyone in the country. But they still won their first two games 77-10 then 48-3.

Next up was a road game at the very talented 14. Oklahoma who was still reeling from an early season loss to Houston after being ranked 3. in the preseason rankings. Ohio State was able to overpower the Sooners in a convincing 45-24 victory.

After rattling off two more blowout wins, a showdown at 8. Wisconsin loomed. The Badgers and their stifling defense were coming off a nail biter 7-14 loss at Michigan and were looking to bounce back. The Buckeyes kicked a field goal late in the fourth to tie it up at 23-23. The game carried into overtime where Ohio State struck first with a touchdown. Wisconsin was able to get to the goal line, but the Ohio State defense stuffed them for 4 downs and came through with the win.

But Ohio State was upset the following week by Penn State. The Nittany Lions won the game on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown that gave them the lead with just five minutes left to play. This loss to the then unranked Penn State would come back to haunt Ohio State.

Ohio State rebounded with 4 straight wins, including a 62-3 romping over 10. Nebraska.  But their biggest test of the season waited.

It was the greatest rivalry in sports, Ohio State and Michigan. The teams were ranked 2 and 3 and a loss would effectively eliminate them from playoff contention. Michigan needed a win to get into the Big 10 championship and Ohio State needed a win plus Penn State to lose.

Though Michigan had controlled the game throughout, Ohio State capitalized on the Wolverine mistakes. They turned two interceptions into touchdowns which set them up 14-17 in the fourth. After missing two easy field goals earlier, Ohio State kicker Tyler Durbin tied it up in the final seconds.

In overtime, the teams traded touchdowns and went to a second overtime. Michigan was held to field goal. Then on their turn of overtime, Ohio State decisively ended it on a wide receiver reverse to win the game. The Game was over and Ohio State had topped their bitter rivals Michigan 30-27 in double OT.

Ohio State waited to hear their fate on Championship weekend hoping the committee felt they were good enough to make the Playoffs without winning the Big 10. They made it in, sneaking in at 3.

The Buckeyes are only two years removed from their last National Championship. They have almost an entirely new roster after they shipped off to the NFL, but they are back and ready to win again.

2. Clemson

Clemson’s road back to the playoffs was a bumpy ride. Though they finished 12-1 and ACC champions, they had some close calls.

They started off the season with surprisingly close 6 point victories over Auburn then Troy.

Their first real test came against the surging 3. Louisville Cardinals and eventual Heisman, Lamar Jackson. But Clemson had a star quarterback of their own in Deshaun Watson. It was shootout that came down to the final drive. The score was 42-38 Clemson, but Lamar Jackson had driven the Cardinals to the Tiger’s goal line. But Clemson held on after a fourth down stop and survived.

Clemson barely survived NC State after the Wolf Pack missed a mere 33 yard field goal on the final play of the 4th quarter that would have broke the 17-17 tie. Clemson took care of business in overtime to win 24-17 in a sloppy game they really should have lost.

Next week was their rival 12. Florida State. It was an exciting game where Clemson came together down the stretch to close it out. In the final minutes, Deshaun Watson led a game winning drive and the defense closed it out for an impressive 37-34 win.

After blanking Syracuse 54-0, the tigers were upset by Pitt. In a game where Deshaun Watson threw a whopping 70 passes for 580 yards, Pitt hung tough with the Tigers in the shootout. They kept it close and struck with a late touchdown but failed a potential game-tying two point conversion. But the Panthers rebounded and kicked a game winning field goal with seconds left for a shocking 43-42 win.

After Clemson closed out the regular season with two solid wins, they had 23. Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship. Though the Hokies paced the Tigers in 42-35 Clemson win, the Tigers really controlled the game throughout.

This set them up for a repeat playoff appearance, but this year they’re looking for the title.

1. Alabama

Last year’s champions, and this year 13-0. The Tide are having another dominate season, they look to keep rolling.

After thrashing 9. USC 52-6 in their opener, there was no doubt about them even after sending many key players to the NFL.

Two weeks later was possibly already their biggest test of the season, 19. Ole Miss, the team who beat the two years in a row. The Chad Kelly led Rebels jumped out to a 21-3 lead, but ‘Bama battled back for their closest game in a 48-43 win.

Alabama dominated their next 2 opponents before going into a streak of 3 straight ranked opponents, 16. Arkansas, 9. Tennessee, and 6. Texas A&M. The Tide continued their domination winning each game by double digits.

Next was a true road test against the revived 13. LSU who’s season had turned after the firing of their longtime coach, Les Miles. The game was a stalemate after 3 quarters, 0-0. But Alabama strung together an impressive 12 play, 90 yard drive, capped off by QB Jalen Hurts 21 yard touchdown run. A field goal later iced the 10-0 victory.

Alabama won the Iron Bowl against bitter rival Auburn 30-12 to cap off a 12-0 regular season and setting them up for the SEC Championship.

The Crimson Tide faced off against 15. Florida in the Georgia Dome. The Tide proved one last time that they were the best as they thrashed the gators 54-16 capping off a perfect season and locking up the 1 seed.

The Playoffs

Peach Bowl: 1. Alabama vs 4. Washington

First thing: no one is close to Alabama. They are undoubtedly the best team in the nation. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be challenged. We saw them nearly lose to Ole Miss in a shootout, their offense was stifled against LSU, and crucial mistakes ruined Texas A&M’s upset bid. Alabama isn’t perfect.

Washington is a very good team, much better than people give them credit for and are very deserving of a playoff spot. They could challenge ‘Bama. They’ve got a great defense, and an explosive offensive triplet in John Ross, Miles Gaskin, and Jake Browning.

But Alabama is a team that bullies great teams. Last year in the playoffs that stomped Michigan State 38-0. When you give Alabama a few weeks to game plan for a team, he’s going to expose them.

I could see the game being close, I could see it being a blowout, but I don’t see Washington winning.

Alabama 38, Washington 17

Orange Bowl: 2. Clemson vs 3. Ohio State

Ohio State is one of two teams to beat Alabama in the past 3 years, but that doesn’t nescarilly make them the team to beat Clemson.

This is an interesting matchup. Both these teams lost a lot of core players to the NFL but retained their starting quarterback. Clemson seems to be sleepwalking through this season with unreasonably close games against inferior teams, similarly to last year’s Ohio State team.

These are both tough teams to pick against. While Clemson has some of the best offensive playmakers in the country, I expect Ohio State to be able to run all Clemson’s front seven.

Ultimately, I think the Buckeyes are the tougher team, and Clemson has looked beatable in many games this year. Expect the Ohio State to pull through in a very, very close game.

Ohio State 24, Clemson 21

2017 National Championship: 1. Alabama vs 3. Ohio State

A rematch from the first ever CFP, and a rivalry renewed between College Football’s premier coaches, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.

Probably the only team who can really handle Alabama’s physicality, Ohio State has the means to pull off the collosol upset. But don’t expect them to be successful in running the ball.

As will Alabama struggle against the Buckeye’s defense. Ohio State is stacked on defense and could crack the code on stopping Jalen Hurts and the Tide offense.

Both these teams are expert at finding favorable matchups and exposing flaws. Expect a low scoring yet wildly entertaining game. It will be a true chess match.

As I said earlier, Alabama is the best. But Ohio State is a great, great team so they will keep it close til the end, maybe they could even pull off the upset.

Alabama 17, Ohio State 16