ESPN and ABC show more football than any other network or combination of networks on Saturdays. The odds are pretty high that they will always be carrying some of the nation’s top-ranked teams. That will likely be the case this weekend too, but the PR department could be jumping the gun on what it has to sell.
This weekend, ESPN claims that it will have games featuring each of the three highest-ranked teams in America. That is true based on the time the press release went out on Monday. However, another press release went out from ESPN earlier in the day reminding everyone that covers the media that the first rankings for the College Football Playoff will be revealed Tuesday night on ESPN. There is a very real chance that the teams that are at the top of the AP Poll will be less significant after that.
Georgia, who plays Missouri at noon on ESPN on Saturday, seems like a surefire #1. Cincinnati is #2 in the AP Poll. It is very likely they will not be in the top 4 of the first CFP Rankings. That committee has never been particularly kind to non-Power 5 teams. Cincinnati is set to host College GameDay that morning and Tulsa that afternoon. Finally, Alabama is #3 in the AP Poll. With one loss already on their resume and no signature win, it is not unreasonable to think they may be outside of the top four when the rankings are revealed on Tuesday night.
None of this is to say that ESPN’s slate of games is any less impressive nor that the teams involved are not worth watching. It is just interesting to see a network touting having all of the top 3 teams playing while also touting a set of college football rankings that could completely undo that strategy.
