Does UCLA deserve a higher spot in the CFP rankings?

UCLA is 8-0 and No. 5 in both the AP poll and the Coaches Poll, but the College Football Playoff selection committee ranked the Bruins at No. 8 in its first rankings Tuesday night. This left UCLA behind multiple teams with losses, No. 2 Georgia (7-1), No. 4 Indiana (8-1), No. 5 Alabama (6-2), No. 6 Kentucky (7-1) and No. 7 Texas (6-2). At least two teams ahead of them are hard to justify.

The clearest example is Texas. The Longhorns sit one spot above UCLA with two losses, both to unranked teams. Their best wins are a 24-23 win over Ohio State and 20-17 win at Tennessee, who are now No. 12 and 13 in CFP rankings. Those games were decided by a total of four points. They can also hang their hat on a 34-27 win over Ole Miss, which is No. 10 in the CFP rankings. UCLA's signature win, 17-15 at then-No. 13 Oregon, was decided by two, but the Bruins also don't have any losses to offset it.

That win was not just a fluke. UCLA forced seven turnovers in Eugene and held Oregon's offense, which was averaging 505.5 yards per game, to 272, according to Sports Illustrated. This past week, UCLA shut out the Nevada Wolf Pack 27-0, holding them to 176 total yards and forcing four interceptions. 

The strongest argument against UCLA is its schedule. Oregon was UCLA's most impressive win, and the Ducks have since fallen to No. 23. ESPN's Football Power Index ranked UCLA 36th entering Week 7, and the Bruins' 33.5 points per game sits at 37th of 138 FBS teams. Still, UCLA is sitting No. 3 on ESPN's strength of record, a measure of results against schedule difficulty. A team can only beat the opponents it's given.

UCLA has not played any team currently ranked above it, so its case solely relies on its record, schedule and quality wins. It's difficult to justify any two-loss team getting ranked ahead of an undefeated Power Four team. That means Alabama and Texas don't have much of a case for being ahead of UCLA. The most realistic spot for the Bruins is likely at No. 6, with Alabama and Texas right behind.

UCLA can settle the debate on the field with its remaining schedule. The Bruins still have to play Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and No. 20 USC. If UCLA continues to win, and ends the season at 12-0, the committee would be left with little room to keep the Bruins behind teams with any losses.