"Surprising First College Football Playoff Rankings: Ohio State Claims No. 1 Spot"

Ohio State claims the No. 1 spot in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, followed by Georgia at No. 2. Michigan, despite being under NCAA investigation, secures the No. 3 spot, while Florida State and Washington round out the top five. Strength of schedule played a significant role in determining the rankings, with Ohio State's victories over Penn State and Notre Dame boosting their position. Georgia and Michigan have weaker schedules but face challenging matchups ahead. The rankings are subject to change as the season progresses.