Alabama Finishes No. 1 in Congrove Computer Rankings

January 9, 2018 by Dave Congrove

Alabama claims the top spot in the final 2017 Congrove Computer Rankings (CCR Top 130) after a 26-23 overtime win vs. Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship game on Monday night in Atlanta. Of the teams that were selected by the playoff committee to participate in the Final Four tournament, the Tide were the only team that didn't win its conference title. That distinction went Georgia.

Alabama became the 2nd team in the playoff era to win the title as a 4-seed. Ohio State also turned that trick in the inaugural playoff season of 2014.

Speaking of Ohio State, the Buckeyes jumped to #2 in the final rankings to edge out Georgia. Final 4 participant Clemson began the playoffs ranked 1st and finished 4th. Oklahoma tumbled from 4th to 7th.

Wisconsin, which fell in the Big Ten title game to Ohio State for its only loss of the season, finished 5th. Fellow Big Ten member Penn State took 6th.

Central Florida, the only team to go undefeated, takes 8th. UCF defeated Auburn in the Peach Bowl to go 13-0 in Scott Frost's second, and final, season as head coach of the Knights.

USC and Notre Dame round out the Top 10.

The Big Ten and SEC each have five teams in the final top 25, followed by the ACC with 4.  The American, Big 12 and PAC-12 have 3 apiece, followed by the Independents and MWC with 1 each.

Toledo ranks highest among MAC teams, finishing just outside the top 25 at number 26. FAU is the highest-rated Conference USA team at No. 32, and Troy is the top Sun Belt team at No. 35.

View the full Top 130.