A weekend of upsets provided plenty of drama heading into Tuesday. With the College Football Rankings set to be released, questions ran rampant. However, the committee attempted to answer any and all queries with the updated rankings. All that now stands between the top four teams and the playoff is Championship Weekend.
College Football Playoff Top Twenty Five
1. Clemson (11-1)
2. Auburn (10-2)
3. Oklahoma (11-1)
4. Wisconsin (12-0)
5. Alabama (11-1)
6. Georgia (11-1)
7. Miami (10-1)
8. Ohio State (10-2)
9. Penn State (10-2)
10. USC (10-2)
11. TCU (10-2)
12. Stanford (9-3)
13. Washington (10-2)
14. UCF (11-0)
15. Notre Dame (9-3)
16. Michigan State (9-3)
17. LSU (9-3)
18. Washington State (9-3)
19. Oklahoma State (9-3)
20. Memphis (10-1)
21. Northwestern (9-3)
22. Virginia Tech (9-3)
23. Mississippi State (8-4)
24. NC State (8-4)
25. Fresno State (9-3)
Looking at the top four, the defending National Champion Clemson Tigers take over the top position once again. It’s the first time this season that Dabo Swinney’s program has regained the No. 1 ranking in any poll. The Tigers can thank their fellow Tigers from Auburn for the boost. Of course, as Miami and Clemson square off in the ACC Title Game, it’s all but certain that one of the two will represent the conference in this year’s playoff.
Auburn earned back-to-back wins over the committee’s No. 1 ranked team while surging up the polls. As the clear favorite to win the SEC, the Tigers leapt up to the committee’s No. 2 program at this point of the season. Assuming the Georgia Bulldogs exact revenge, they’ll likely take over in carrying the SEC Banner into the playoff.
Moving up one spot, the Oklahoma Sooners are firmly in the college playoff picture barring an upset in Arlington, Texas. The TCU Horned Frogs present a unique challenge in that the two have played previously this season. An OU loss likely knocks the Big 12 out of playoff contention which places a second SEC team in the playoff picture.
Lastly, Wisconsin cannot catch a break. As one of two undefeated teams in the rankings, many point to a strength of schedule issue. Others could argue that the Alabama Crimson Tide were in a similar boat, yet received the nod without question. Now, with one final opportunity to solidify the ranking, the Badgers face the Ohio State Buckeyes for the crown. Behind a stingy defense and a top tier rushing attack, could Wisconsin take over the top spot with win?