Predicting what the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings will be

It’s finally here — well, almost. We’ve been observing, watching, and opining on what teams are the ones that will be a part of the four teams in the College Football Playoff since before the 2022 college football season started. And so far, all we’ve had to go on are opinion makers and the two traditional polls.

But that’s all about to change. On Tuesday, the first release of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed and Ohio State, Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan and Clemson will be very interested to see what the baseline will be as they try to get into all the postseason fun.

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It’s just around the corner, but we’re not waiting. Instead, we are forging ahead and attempting to figure this all out before the CFP committee releases its official rankings. It can be hard to figure out what the committee will do, but we’ll do our best to try and use the precedent that’s been used so far — even though that seems to be a moving target year over year — aside from SEC teams always getting the benefit of the doubt.

Here is our best stab at predicting what you might see when the first release of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. We count down from No. 25 to No. 1.

25

Liberty Flames (7-1)

Sept. 17, 2022; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Liberty Flames wide receiver Demario Douglas (3) runs with the ball after his catch against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at Truist Field. James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Arkansas

24

Tulane Green Wave (7-1)

Oct. 31, 2014; New Orleans; The mascot for the Tulane Green Wave runs onto the field during their game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the fourth quarter at Yulman Stadium. Cincinnati won, 38-14. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Tulsa

23

Washington Huskies (6-2)

Nov. 23, 2018; Pullman; Washington Huskies helmet sits during a football game against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Martin Stadium. The Huskies won 28-15. James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Oregon State

22

NC State Wolfpack (6-2)

Nov. 13, 2021; Winston-Salem; A North Carolina State Wolfpack helmet seen on the sideline during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Wake Forest

21

Oregon State (6-2)

July 29, 2022; Los Angeles, California; A detailed view of Oregon State Beavers helmet during Pac-12 media day at Novo Theater. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Washington

20

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-2)

Sept. 30, 2017; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; A closeup view of a Wake Forest Demon Deacons helmet during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at BB&T Field. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at NC State

19

Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2)

Jan. 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Oklahoma State Cowboys helmet during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Kansas

18

Syracuse Orange (6-2)

Sept. 16, 2017; Syracuse, New York; General view of a Syracuse Orange helmet on the turf prior to the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at the Carrier Dome. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Pitt

17

Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2)

Nov. 16, 2013; University Park, Pennsylvania; General view of a Penn State Nittany Lions helmet prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Indiana

16

Utah Utes (6-2)

Sept. 14, 2019; Salt Lake City, Utah; A general view of the helmet worn by Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) against the Idaho State Bengals at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Arizona

15

North Carolina (7-1)

Oct. 30, 2021; South Bend, Indiana; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels football helmet during warmups before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Virginia

14

LSU Tigers (6-2)

Oct .6, 2018; Gainesville, Florida; A detailed view of LSU Tigers football helmets against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Alabama

13

Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1)

Dec. 30, 2019; Santa Clara, California; General view of the Illinois Fighting Illini helmet during the second quarter against California Golden Bears at Levi’s Stadium. Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Michigan State

12

Kansas State Wildcats (6-2)

Nov. 6, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas; A general view of a Kansas State Wildcats helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Texas

11

UCLA Bruins (7-1)

Sept. 25, 2014; Tempe, Arizona; Detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmets on the sidelines against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Arizona State

10

USC Trojans (7-1)

Dec. 29, 2017; Arlington, Texas; General overall view of the 2017 Cotton Bowl logo on the back of the helmet of Southern California Trojans long snapper Jake Olson at AT&T Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. California

9

Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)

Oct. 12, 2019; Columbia, Missouri; A general view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

IDLE

8

Oregon Ducks (7-1)

An “End racism” sticker joins the American Flag on the helmets of Oregon players Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Colorado

7

TCU Horned Frogs (8-0)

July 14, 2022; Arlington, Texas; A view of the TCU Horned Frogs helmet logo during the Big 12 media day at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Texas Tech

6

Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)

July 18, 2018; Atlanta, Georgia; An Alabama Crimson Tide helmet is shown on the main stage during SEC football media day at the College Football Hall of Fame. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at LSU

5

Clemson Tigers (8-0)

The Clemson football helmet near the Fiesta Bowl trophy at the coaches’ press conference in Scottsdale, Arizona Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Notre Dame

4

Michigan Wolverines (8-0)

Dec. 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, Florida; A Michigan Wolverines football helmet sits on the field prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Michigan Wolverines at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Rutgers

3

Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)

Oct. 1, 2022; Columbus; A sticker-laden Ohio State Buckeyes helmet sits on the turf during warmups before Saturday’s game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Columbus. Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

NEXT UP

at Northwestern

2

Georgia Bulldogs (8-0)

Dec. 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

vs. Tennessee

1

Tennessee Volunteers (8-0)

Nov. 23, 2019; Columbia, Missouri; A general view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NEXT UP

at Georgia