As of now, anyway. It was the first time in more than 31 years that the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 lost, Ohio State vaulted to No. 2 in Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff rankings. The move was expected after three teams in front of them lost, and OSU put on another show with its second-straight 62-3 victory. 2-3-4 teams all going down in the same day for the first time since 1985 – resulted in some shake-up to the third edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings, though not as much as you might think. The hated rivals face off on November 26.
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Five teams each from the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12 are among the top 25. Clemson was upset by Pittsburgh, which makes Penn State’s early-season loss more palatable, while MI fell to Iowa and Washington was handled by USC. Coming in at the two next with an outside shot at the playoffs is Louisville at No. 5 and Washington at No. 6.
Hocutt added that Clemson’s win over Louisville is valued highly by the committee members. Freshman running back Dae William tweeted: “So Clemson and MI can lose to unranked teams and stay in the top 4. that’s insane”. USC jumped from No. 20 to No. 13. The Cowboys have the worst strength of schedule of any team in the top 20, and yes, I know Boise State is No. 20. While it’s inexplicable that the Mountaineers are No. 14, any aggravation from the WVU fanbase shouldn’t last very long. Both West teams are now undefeated in conference play. Which teams will find themselves in the top four when new rankings come out Tuesday? Their next big test is against Washington State, but before that game, they face off against Arizona State this weekend. They’re on a seven-game winning streak. Now the coach of Michigan, Harbaugh saw history repeat as the Hawkeyes beat an undefeated Michigan team.
There is little question that Ohio State would have the best overall resume in the Big Ten, and maybe one of the best resume’s in the country, if it wins out.
The Wolverines aren’t out of the playoffs but of all the one-loss teams, they have a tough road ahead with the Buckeyes.
– If Penn State wins out but does not make the Big 10 Championship Game, it is once again possible to make a New Year’s six. MI stays in the top four at #3 while Clemson, a loser to Pittsburgh, stayed in the top four as well.
Louisville and Washington fill in the fifth and sixth spots respectively.
The Buckeyes were ranked No. 5 after having lost one game to Penn State in Week 7.
This Saturday, they play No. 10 Colorado in Boulder, before turning around and facing No. 6 Washington in Pullman on Black Friday in a game that will determine the Pac-12 North victor.
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If Washington State beats Washington and then beats, say, Colorado in the Pac-12 title game? One chip that needs to fall this weekend is Houston beating Louisville and the Sooners beating West Virginia. Auburn 16. LSU 17. Florida State Seminoles (7-3) 18.
