A group of ESPN writers put their heads together to come up with a list of the Top 50 players in the College Football Playoffs.
The group includes ESPN’s Bil Connelly, David Hale, Chris Low, Adam Rittenberg, and Paolo Uggetti.
“This isn’t a ranking of the stars who accomplished the most in the regular season, per se, though that plays a part,” Hale writes. “It’s also not necessarily a ranking of the players who will put up the biggest numbers over the next seven weeks. Consider it more of a viewer’s guide: When you tune in for the College Football Playoff, these are the 50 players you won’t want to miss.”
Here’s how the rankings shook out by team:
Ohio State – 6
Oregon – 6
Clemson – 5
Georgia – 4
Tennessee – 4
Penn State – 4
Notre Dame – 4
Texas – 4
Indiana – 4
SMU – 3
Arizona State – 3
Boise State – 3
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Preview: Vols Looking For Upset Win in the College Football Playoffs
8-seed Ohio State will host 9-seed Tennessee in what could be the most-anticipated first-round playoff game on Saturday night in Columbus, OH.
Despite a recent loss to unranked Michigan in the regular season finale, Ohio State has one of the best rosters in the country, and the ESPN rankings agree. While some of the teams could have another player(s) on the list if it wasn’t for injury, Ohio State would also be in the category with likely two additional offensive linemen on the list. The Buckeyes’ average ranking for their six players is 26.
Ohio State’s players are No. 42 Will Howard (QB), No. 32 Jack Sawyer (DE), No. 29 Cody Simon (LB), No. 23 Donovan Jackson (OL), No. 19 Caleb Downs (S), and No. 10 Jeremiah Smith (WR).
Tennessee, meanwhile, lands four players on the list including one Top 10 selection. Three of Tennessee’s players come on the defensive side of the football while, unsurprisingly, running back Dylan Sampson leads the Vol players at the No. 8 position. Tennessee’s average ranking for its four players is 22.
Sampson is ranked as the third-highest running back behind No. 1 Ashton Jeanty from Boise State and No. 3 Cam Skattebo from Arizona State.
Tennessee’s players are No. 39 Joshua Josephs (DL), No. 21 Jermod McCoy (CB), No. 20 James Pearce Jr. (DL), and No. 8 Dylan Sampson (RB).
Perhaps PFF season grades were taken into account as Tennessee’s four players were the four highest-rated U.T. players from Pro Football Focus.
Tennessee will need its stars to shine on a chilly night in Columbus this Saturday.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for live, on-site coverage of the game coming up on Saturday night in The Shoe.
Check out ESPN’s full Top 50 players list here.
