LSU Ranked #2 in College Football Playoff Rankings

The initial College Football playoff rankings have been released by the selection committee. The initial rankings came with more than their share of surprises.

First off, here are the rankings:

25 Houston
24 Toledo
23 UCLA
22 Temple
21 Northwestern
20 Mississippi State
19 Texas A&M
18 Ole Miss
17 Michigan
16 Florida State
15 Oklahoma
14 Oklahoma State
13 Memphis
12 Utah
11 Stanford
10 Florida
9 Iowa
8 TCU
7 Michigan State
6 Baylor
5 Notre Dame
4 Alabama
3 Ohio State
2 LSU
1 Clemson

For LSU fans the sight of the Tigers sitting right up at the top is a positive sign, but an unsurprising one. Handling Bama is more important at this point than any poll, and a win against the Tide will lock up the Tigers status as a playoff frontrunner.

Sep 5, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles before a game against the McNeese State Cowboys at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest surprise for many is the sight of Alabama in one of the top four spots in the rankings. Alabama is ranked above several undefeated teams, including highly ranked Baylor and TCU.

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Seeing Baylor and TCU locked out of the top slots in the initial rankings sends a real message: strength of schedule matters.

Selection committee head Jeff Long mentioned quality wins as a decisive factor, and said teams like TCU and Baylor were difficult to evaluate because they have their strength of schedule ahead of them.

The stress on resume building benefits LSU tremendously. LSU currently has wins against two ranked teams and is playing a team ranked in the top four this weekend.

The focus on strength of schedule, and the mention of quality wins as the deciding factor between teams with similar records and schedules is a clear indication that LSU will make the playoffs in the end if they take care of business and win the games left on their schedule.

There is room for teams to move up, of course. Selection Commitment Chairman Jeff Long seems open to moving teams like Baylor and TCU up once they have wins against quality opponents.

There are a lot of critical games coming up beside the big match between LSU and Bama. LSU will have to get past Texas A&M and win the SEC Championship Game, most likely against Florida.

Oct 17, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Lewis Neal (92) pressures Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State and Michigan State still have to play each other, with the winner probably facing Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.

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TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma all have to play each other in a Big XII free for all over the next few weeks.

Clemson and Florida State are facing off this weekend. Notre Dame has a big matchup left with Stanford to close out their season.

Quality wins are what the playoff selection committee wants to see, and all of the teams ranked in the top 20 have opportunities to strengthen their resume before the playoff invites are sent out.

Right now LSU is status unchanged. Beat Bama. Close out with wins over Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Win the SEC Championship Game.

And play for a National Championship……