* Remember that this is just the start of a six-week process. A year ago, the top-four teams in the first set of rankings were, in order, Mississippi State, Florida State, Auburn and Ole Miss. Only Florida State made it into the playoff. The other playoff participants started fifth (Oregon), sixth (Alabama) and 16th (eventual champion Ohio State). Florida State is 16th this week, by the way.
* The SEC had two teams in the top four (No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Alabama), which I’m sure sent the folks in the Big 12 and Pac-12 screaming into the streets.