The Huskies claimed the top spot in the final Pool Poll rankings before bowl season begins.
Washington and Michigan punched their tickets on Saturday, leaving little doubt that they would make the College Football Playoffs. The doubt remained around Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Texas. Texas was thought to have the upper hand because of their head-to-head win over Alabama and their impressive Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State. Florida State struggled offensively with their third-string quarterback against Louisville but they still won the ACC Championship to remain undefeated. Some thought that their performance left the door open for Alabama or Georgia.
In the SEC Championship, Alabama held off a late rally by Georgia to snap the Bulldogs' 29-game win streak. Would the committee bend to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's complaining about an SECless playoff as science fiction? The answer was a resounding yes! Alabama slipped past Florida State to secure the fourth and final spot. That set up a Rose Bowl game between Michigan (1) and Alabama (4); and a Sugar Bowl matchup between Washington (2) and Texas (3).
I actually had the same four making it if you were basing it solely on the four best teams right now. I thought FSU might get in because they were an undefeated Power 5 conference champ. However, if it was up to the Pool Poll, the rankings would have had Washington (1) playing Liberty (4) and Michigan (2) playing Florida State (3). That would be too absurd so the Flames settled for a New Year's Six Bowl showdown with Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl instead (Oregon opened as a 19.5-point favorite). In the Pool Poll the last two out would've been Texas (5) and Alabama (6), with Texas posting the best WAA (average rank of teams they defeated) at 48.7 with Alabma well behind at 58.3 and Georgia at 67.7. Even Ohio State had a better WAA than Georiga at 59.9, so I have no problem with the Bulldogs being left out of the playoffs.
Here's a full look at where everyone landed in the Pre-Bowl Season Rankings of the infamous Pool Poll. *Denotes conference champ
Michigan is No. 1 at the end of the season for the first time since 1997.
1. Washington* (13-0, 51.3 WAA, 0 LAA)
2. Michigan* (13-0, 64.8, 0)
3. Florida State* (13-0, 67.4, 0)
4. Liberty* (13-0, 90.6, 0)
Texas won the Big 12 in their final year in the conference and made the playoffs.
5. Texas* (12-1, 48.7, 11)
6. Alabama* (12-1, 58.3, 20)
7. Georgia (12-1, 67.7, 8)
8. Ohio State (11-1, 59.9, 5)
9. James Madison (11-1, 80, 53)
Oregon may be without Bo Nix for their Fiesta Bowl appearance.
10. Oregon (11-2, 63.6, 1.5)
11. Troy* (11-2, 79.5, 28.5)
12. Tulane (11-2, 86.1, 24)
13. SMU* (11-2, 89.2, 50.5)
14. Miami, OH* (11-2, 90.1, 44)
Miami ran past Toledo for their first MAC title since 2019.
16. Oklahoma (10-2, 67.6, 34.5)
17. Missouri (10-2, 69.9, 33.5)
18. Penn State (10-2, 83.6, 5.5)
19. Ole Miss (10-2, 86.9, 26)
Iowa managed to hit the under once again.
20. Iowa (10-3, 74.1, 31)
21. Louisville (10-3, 76.2, 61.3)
22. LSU (9-3, 70, 18.3)
23. NCST (9-3, 70.4, 24.3)
24. Arizona (9-3, 70.8, 15)
Look who snuck back into the Pool Poll.
25. Notre Dame (9-3, 78.7, 31.3)
Waiting List: Memphis, Ohio, New Mexico State, Oklahoma State, UNLV, Clemson, UNC, Kansas State, Oregon State, Utah, Kansas, Wyoming, Fresno State, West Virginia, and Tennessee
Other Notes: Boise State is the only conference champ that did not finish inside the Top 25 (44).
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