People woke up today in a brand new world.
asserted
People → wake → world
The world we knew yesterday?
asserted
we → know → ?
She's gone.
asserted
She → go → ?
And asking themselves, "What happened?"
And why did this happen?
asserted
this → ask → themselves
How did this happen?
asserted
this → happen → ?
Most importantly, we're all asking ourselves where we go from here?
asserted
we → ask → ourselves
These are uncharted waters, and we could all use a little course-correction.
uncertain
we → use → correction
Yes, the first edition of the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings are officially HERE, and they stink to high heavens.
asserted
they → stink → heavens
Beyond Miami being the consensus No. 1, and Georgia at No. 2, I'm not sure anyone agrees with any of it.
asserted
anyone → agree → it
The biggest beef, as far as I can tell?
asserted
I → tell → beef
Wake Forest should feel completely disrespected today
Fans are — rightfully so — trying to figure out how the committee justified putting a two-loss Alabama team over, say, the two-loss Tennessee team that beat them a few weeks ago.
asserted
that → feel → them
I get it.
asserted
I → get → it
I don't think the Vols are very good, for what it's worth, but that argument is certainly a valid one today.
asserted
argument → think → ?
It's also a tough look putting a team at No. 5 in the country when they've lost two of three.
asserted
they → put → three
No, I don't care who the losses came against.
asserted
losses → care → who
Obviously, college football fans have been shouting about the committee and ESPN having some sort of "SEC-bias" for years now.
asserted
committee → shout → years
Putting 'Bama at No. 5 will only strengthen that argument.
asserted
Putting → put → argument
Those voices will only get louder.
asserted
voices → get → ?
To be fair, I'm not sure Utah or Indiana belong anywhere near the top five, either, so this works for other conferences as well.
asserted
this → belong → conferences
Perhaps the committee is just ... not very good at the one thing they're supposed to be good at?
asserted
they → suppose → thing
They've proved this for a decade now, and these latest rankings only bolster that argument.
asserted
rankings → prove → argument
And if you want a really good example, look no further than Wake Forest at No. 16.
asserted
you → want → .
You want to talk about an oversight?
asserted
You → want → oversight
The Demon Deacons got completely hosed in this first batch of rankings.
asserted
Deacons → hose → rankings
I'd argue that Wake Forest is the most underrated team in college football right now, and it's been that way for most of the season.
asserted
it → argue → season
I know this because I've wagered a lot of money on Wake Forest for about two months now, and Vegas still hasn't caught up.
asserted
Vegas → know → months
The Demon Deacons have dominated every single team they've played this year except Miami, and they nearly beat the Hurricanes on a random Friday night earlier in the year.
asserted
they → dominate → year
We all ignored it then and just chalked it up to Miami having an "off second half."
asserted
Miami → ignore → half
Wake Forest had a real shot to win that game, and they've only gotten better since.
asserted
they → have → game
The Demon Deacons have won their last four games by 156 points, folks. One-hundred and fifty-six!
asserted
Deacons → win → points
"But Zach, they haven't beaten anyone!"
Sure, that's a fair argument.
asserted
that → beat → anyone
Wake Forest's one "big" win is Louisville — a team that nearly knocked off Ole Miss to open the season, but has since fallen off.
asserted
that → knock → season
I get it.
asserted
I → get → it
But LSU is ranked two spots ahead of the Demon Deacons, and the Tigers have one more loss and the same amount of "big" wins.
asserted
Tigers → rank → wins
They've lost to Kentucky and Ole Miss, and beaten ... who?
asserted
They → lose → Kentucky
I'd argue that No. 1 Miami doesn't have any "big" wins either ... except Wake Forest!
asserted
Miami → argue → Forest
Who else have the 'Canes beaten?
asserted
Canes → beat → Who
Frankly, they should've lost FSU.
asserted
they → lose → FSU
If the committee is putting Miami at No. 1, they're doing so because A) they're undefeated, but B) because they do have one impressive win.
asserted
they → put → win
I believe it is, far and away, the best conference in college football.
asserted
it → believe → football
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
