First CFP rankings prove committee loves the SEC compared to coaches poll - USA Today

The first release of the College Football Playoff rankings have caused a stir.

Many people were surprised to see where several teams were slotted on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from Notre Dame and Ohio State outside of the top 10 while Alabama and Kentucky are in the top six. What's basing those stunned reactions is how drastic the College Football Playoff committee ranked teams compared to the US LBM Coaches Poll.

When looking at the difference, its easy to see the committee loves the SEC and its strength of schedule against each other, with the majority of teams with significant wins coming from the conference.

Here is the top 25 in the playoff rankings, and in parathensis is where each team is in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Here are the biggest differences in plus or minus in the playoff rankings compares to the coaches poll.

As noted, the SEC received plenty of love from the committee. Of the 13 teams with a gain, 10 are from the SEC, with the seven biggest jumps coming from the SEC. It also didn't get any drops.

Meanwhile, of the nine teams with a drop, four are from the Big Ten, with the biggest difference being Notre Dame at No. 11 despite being No. 5 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.