College Football Playoff rankings: Arizona 22nd in first edition of top 25

The first College Football Playoff rankings of 2017 are here, and the Arizona Wildcats debut in the 22nd position.

Arizona, who is now 6-2 and 4-1 in the Pac-12, has vaulted to the top of the Pac-12 South standings thanks to one of the most amazing months ever put together by a college football player.

Khalil Tate has gone from the bench to possible Heisman candidate and Maxwell Award semifinalist in four short weeks. Oh, and he’s been named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week in each of those four games, a new conference record.

Tate has almost single-handedly rejuvenated a fanbase that needed something to root for, and now there is plenty on the line as we head into the final month of the season.

It starts with Saturday night’s game against the USC Trojans, who are 17th in this first CFB ranking. The winner will have the inside track to a Pac-12 South title and possibly more.

That game kicks off at 7:45 PM PT on ESPN.

Here’s the full top 25:

1. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
4. Clemson Tigers
5. Oklahoma Sooners
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
8. TCU Horned Frogs
9. Wisconsin Badgers
10. Miami-Florida Hurricanes
11. Oklahoma State Cowboys
12. Washington Huskies
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
14. Auburn Tigers
15. Iowa St. Cyclones
16. Mississippi St. Bulldogs
17. USC Trojans
18. UCF Knights
19. LSU Tigers
20. N.C. State Wolfpack
21. Stanford Cardinal
22. Arizona Wildcats
23. Memphis Tigers
24. Michigan State Spartans
25. Washington State Cougars