2017 College Football Playoff Rankings: UCF is ranked no. 18 and Memphis is ranked no. 23

The first College Football Playoff Rankings have been released and to the surprise of no one, the 7-0 UCF Knights are the highest ranked Group of Five team. UCF is ranked no. 18, five spots ahead of the 7-1 Memphis Tigers who come in at no. 23.

Only two G5 teams are ranked in the initial Playoff Rankings and they all hail from the American Conference, the best G5 conference this season.

The first 2016 College Football Playoff Rankings last year only featured two G5 teams as well. A 7-1 Boise State was ranked no. 24, and an 8-0 Western Michigan was ranked no. 23.

Both ranked teams will be in action this weekend and both will be on the road. Memphis will play Tulsa on Friday night. UCF will be on upset alert this Saturday as the Knights will travel to Dallas and play an explosive SMU team.

I figured we’d see UCF ranked as the highest G5 team but 18th is a bit low. Memphis coming in at no. 23 sounds about right though. I thought USF might sneak in at no. 25 but I guess the committee dinged them for not looking the part despite a 7-1 record.

The biggest takeaway after the first Playoff Rankings is that it appears the AAC is a lock to represent the G5 in the New Year’s Six this year.