The College Football Playoff teams have been selected.
The top four teams of the season, in descending order, are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Washington.
This is likely to spark fierce debate, as OSU did not even win its own conference, the Big Ten. Penn State, which beat OSU earlier this season, earned that title on Saturday night over Wisconsin. Michigan, also a Big Ten school, was also considered a possibility for the top four even after it lost to OSU.
The big games
- Peach Bowl (CFB semifinal): Alabama vs. Washington, 12/31
- Fiesta Bowl (CFB semifinal): Clemson vs. OHio State, 12/31
- Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. a to-be-determined team, 1/2
Alabama is the only undefeated school in a major conference and the only to make the top four every year of the CFB system's existence. The last two number one seeds, Alabama in 2015 and Clemson in 2016, have lost.
Everyone, let’s get #mad #online together. It’s time to learn who makes it to the College Football Playoff.
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) December 4, 2016
Fans were ready to debate before the rankings were even announced.
I suppose the logic used in snubbing TCU/Baylor out of the College Football Playoff in 2014 doesn't apply to Ohio State. Smh.
— Jorge📍 (@jman3105) December 4, 2016
Ohio State's inclusion, as expected, annoyed many.
Nick Saban to the College Football Playoff committee: pic.twitter.com/qwHahYyaJP
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 4, 2016
But Alabama's dominance almost seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.