CFP rankings: SEC teams in first College Football Playoff top 25 poll of 2023 season

The unveiling of the final four teams that will qualify for the 2023 College Football Playoff is still one month away, but this week, the first rankings featured a familiar face from the SEC in what would be the national semifinals if the season ended today.

Two-time reigning national champion Georgia, which is No. 1 in the most recent US LBM Coaches Poll, was the No. 2 team in the first College Football Playoff committee rankings, which were unveiled Tuesday night. It is the first of six televised sets of rankings that will help tell the story of the 2023 college football season and ultimately lead to the crowning of a champion.

The Bulldogs are off to an 8-0 start, which has extended their FBS-best active win streak to 25 games.

CFB RANKINGS: SEC teams in updated Coaches Poll, AP Top 25 after Week 9

Georgia finished behind No. 1 Ohio State. In an interview with the ESPN broadcast crew, committee chair and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan cited the Buckeyes' strength of schedule and strength of record as a deciding factor, with wins this season against Notre Dame and Penn State, both of which appeared in the top 15 of the initial playoff rankings.

The Bulldogs weren't alone in the rankings as the SEC, unsurprisingly, was well-represented among the sport's best teams.

No. 8 Alabama was the next-highest finisher, one spot behind No. 7 Texas, which beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in Week 2. Since that defeat, Nick Saban's Crimson Tide has responded nicely to go 7-1 overall and 5-0 in SEC play.

Next up in the rankings is No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 12 Missouri, No. 14 LSU and No. 17 Tennessee, bringing the total number of SEC teams in the initial top 25 to six. The six inclusions are tied with the Pac-12 for the most of any conference.

Here's a look at the full set of College Football Playoff rankings heading into Week 10 of the season:

College Football Playoff rankings for Week 10

Top four teams of first CFP poll

SEC teams in bold.

First two teams out of first CFP poll

SEC teams in bold.

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College Football Playoff top 25 rankings for first CFP poll

SEC teams in bold.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: First CFP rankings of 2023: Where SEC teams rank in top 25 poll