People woke up today in a brand new world. A new era. A new age.
The world we knew yesterday? She’s gone. Everything is different now, and people are furious. And confused. And asking themselves, “What happened?”
And why did this happen? How did this happen? Most importantly, we’re all asking ourselves where we go from here? These are uncharted waters, and we could all use a little course-correction.
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Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer reacts during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 17, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Yes, the first edition of the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings are officially HERE, and they stink to high heavens. Beyond Miami being the consensus No. 1, and Georgia at No. 2, I’m not sure anyone agrees with any of it.
The biggest beef, as far as I can tell? Easy …
How in the world is Alabama the No. 5 team in the country?
Wake Forest should feel completely disrespected today
Fans are — rightfully so — trying to figure out how the committee justified putting a two-loss Alabama team over, say, the two-loss Tennessee team that beat them a few weeks ago.
It’s a good question. A fair one. I get it.
I don’t think the Vols are very good, for what it’s worth, but that argument is certainly a valid one today. It’s also a tough look putting a team at No. 5 in the country when they’ve lost two of three. No, I don’t care who the losses came against. It’s just a bad look.
The optics aren’t great with this one.
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Obviously, college football fans have been shouting about the committee and ESPN having some sort of “SEC-bias” for years now. Putting ‘Bama at No. 5 will only strengthen that argument. Those voices will only get louder.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons wide receiver Jack Foley stiff-arms Stanford Cardinal cornerback Leroy Bryant during the first half at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Oct. 3, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
To be fair, I’m not sure Utah or Indiana belong anywhere near the top five, either, so this works for other conferences as well. Perhaps the committee is just … not very good at the one thing they’re supposed to be good at? They’ve proved this for a decade now, and these latest rankings only bolster that argument.
And if you want a really good example, look no further than Wake Forest at No. 16. You want to talk about an oversight? The Demon Deacons got completely hosed in this first batch of rankings.
HOSED.
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I’d argue that Wake Forest is the most underrated team in college football right now, and it’s been that way for most of the season. I know this because I’ve wagered a lot of money on Wake Forest for about two months now, and Vegas still hasn’t caught up.
The Demon Deacons have dominated every single team they’ve played this year except Miami, and they nearly beat the Hurricanes on a random Friday night earlier in the year.
We all ignored it then and just chalked it up to Miami having an “off second half.” It wasn’t. Wake Forest had a real shot to win that game, and they’ve only gotten better since.
The Demon Deacons have won their last four games by 156 points, folks. One-hundred and fifty-six!
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Wake Forest Demon Deacon rides onto the field leading Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert and his team during the first half against Virginia at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Oct. 31, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
“But Zach, they haven’t beaten anyone!”
Sure, that’s a fair argument. Wake Forest’s one “big” win is Louisville — a team that nearly knocked off Ole Miss to open the season, but has since fallen off. I get it.
But LSU is ranked two spots ahead of the Demon Deacons, and the Tigers have one more loss and the same amount of “big” wins.
Zero.
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They’ve lost to Kentucky and Ole Miss, and beaten … who? Clemson? Mississippi State? A horrific Texas A&M team?
Come on.
I’d argue that No. 1 Miami doesn’t have any “big” wins either … except Wake Forest! Who else have the ‘Canes beaten? Frankly, they should’ve lost FSU. Maybe even North Carolina.
If the committee is putting Miami at No. 1, they’re doing so because A) they’re undefeated, but B) because they do have one impressive win.
And it was against Wake Forest.
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And by the way — I’m no ACC fan. I’m a hardcore SEC guy. I’m admittedly biased towards the SEC. I believe it is, far and away, the best conference in college football.
But fair is fair, and the committee whiffed on this one.
Big time.