GRAPEVINE, Texas -- The SEC's dominance this season was reflected in the College Football Playoff selection committee's first ranking of the season, as one-loss LSU jumped undefeated Notre Dame for the No. 3 spot, joining No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson in the CFP semifinals.
With this particular ranking, there would be five SEC teams in the New Year's Six bowls, including two in the semifinal.
But don't write off the Big 12 and Pac-12 just yet.
With one-loss Oklahoma at No. 7 and one-loss Washington State at No. 8, the 13 members of the selection committee have given those conference front runners more credit than the court of public opinion.