SMU’s CFP ranking spoiled ahead of Selection Day announcement | Sporting News

Selection Day unveiled the final College Football Playoff rankings and the Top 12 teams competing for the national championship, but one of the most anticipated reveals was spoiled just before the official announcement.

After a week of heated debates over whether No. 11 Alabama deserved a playoff spot over ACC teams like No. 12 Miami or No. 8 SMU—who lost to Clemson in the ACC Championship—the rankings are now settled.

Book it.#PonyUp pic.twitter.com/x27LWcnmKh

— SMU Football (@SMUFB) December 8, 2024

The Mustangs made the cut, earning the No. 10 ranking and the 11th seed. They’ll travel to State College to face No. 4 Penn State in the first round of the CFP. However, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy broke the news early, revealing SMU’s placement and spoiling some of the suspense.

One minute before the selection show started, @Brett_McMurphy reported that SMU was in the playoff and Alabama was out, citing anonymous sources.

It is believed to be the first leak of any bracket information in the 11-year history of the CFP.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 8, 2024

While McMurphy didn’t address Clemson’s fate, the Tigers also secured a playoff berth, coming in at No. 16 after their dramatic 34-31 victory over SMU in the ACC Championship. Clemson, the lowest-ranked playoff team, will head to Austin to take on No. 5 Texas in the opening round.

For Miami, the final rankings were a bitter pill to swallow. The Hurricanes, ranked No. 13, were left out alongside Alabama at No. 12, with both teams becoming the first two left out of the playoff. Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson summed up the disappointment for Hurricanes fans on X, writing, “Stinging, disheartening from Canes perspective that ACC gets 2 bids & UM doesn’t make it (with themselves to blame) during year Canes have nation’s best QB.”

Despite Miami’s absence, the ACC emerged as a winner by securing two playoff spots, keeping Alabama out of the 12-team bracket. The inclusion of SMU, a newcomer to the ACC, was particularly significant as the Mustangs earned their spot in their first season as a Power 4 program.

The Athletic’s Pete Thamel noted the larger implications of the rankings, tweeting, “I can’t imagine a scenario that would set off Greg Sankey more than this one. Not just Bama, but South Carolina sitting home while an ACC team it beat on the road and finished higher than is automatic. Should be a fun offseason.”

The Gamecocks beat rival Clemson in Death Valley in Week 14.

With SMU’s inclusion and Clemson’s surprising rise, the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format has already delivered plenty of drama, with Selection Day proving to be no exception.