Oklahoma dropped out of the top 10 as the top seven teams remain unchanged in the latest College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday evening.
The Sooners (9-1) dropped five spots from No. 8 to No. 13 after suffering their first loss of the season, to Baylor, 27-14. The Bears, meanwhile, moved up two spots to No. 11.
Georgia (10-0) and Alabama (9-1) remained in the top two spots for the third straight week with the teams on a collision course to meet in the SEC championship game. Georgia already owns the SEC East divisional crown and Alabama needs a win over Arkansas Saturday to secure the West and a spot in Atlanta.
Oregon (9-1) and Ohio State (9-1) stood pat at the third and fourth spots for the second consecutive week. Oregon remained ahead of Ohio State based on its head-to-head win over the Buckeyes on Sept. 11.
No. 5 Cincinnati (10-0) couldn’t make up any headway despite its 45-28 win over USF last Friday. The Bearcats host SMU, looking to extend their 25-game home winning streak as well as locking up a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship. Cincinnati benefits from having Houston enter the rankings at No. 24. The Cougars already locked up a spot in the AAC title game.
Michigan (9-1) and Michigan State (9-1) came in at No. 6 and No. 7 for the second week in a row. Michigan State remained behind the Wolverines despite winning a head-to-head matchup on Oct. 30.
The Spartans travel to Ohio State Saturday for what would be an elimination game with the loser out of mix for a playoff spot.
Oklahoma State (9-1) represents the best hope for the Big 12 to get a team into the playoff after being ranked No. 9. The Cowboys have remaining games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma as well as a possible berth in the Big 12 championship.
Wake Forest (9-1) moved into the top 10 after its win over NC State. The Demon Deacons can wrap up the ACC Atlantic Division with a win over Clemson Saturday. It was the highest that Wake has been ranked in the playoff era.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with six ranked teams, followed by the Big Ten (5), ACC (3), Big 12 (3), Pac-12 (2), Independent (2), American Athletic Conference (2), Mountain West (1) and Conference USA (1).
This is the third of six weekly rankings released by the 13-member selection committee, with the final standings revealed on Sunday, Dec. 5. Those rankings will determine the four semifinalists along with the teams taking part in the New Year’s Six bowl games.
The two semifinals, which rotate annually, will take place in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl and in Miami at the Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 31.
The Peach (Dec. 30), Fiesta (Jan. 1), Rose (Jan. 1) and Sugar (Jan. 1) bowls host the rest of the New Year’s Six games.
If Cincinnati doesn’t qualify for the semifinals, the Bearcats would be eligible to earn an automatic spot in one of the New Year’s Six Access bowl games as the top-ranked conference champion from the Group of Five.
The College Football Playoff National Championship Game is slated for Monday, Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The selection committee is composed of chairman Gary Barta, Mitch Barnhart, Paola Boivin, Tom Burman, Charlie Cobb, Boo Corrigan, Rick George, Will Shields, Gene Taylor, Joe Taylor, John Urschel, Rod West and Tyrone Willingham.
College Football Playoff rankings
1. Georgia (10-0)
2. Alabama (9-1)
3. Oregon (9-1)
4. Ohio State (9-1)
5. Cincinnati (10-0)
6. Michigan (9-1)
7. Michigan State (9-1)
8. Notre Dame (9-1)
9. Oklahoma State (9-1)
10. Wake Forest (9-1)
11. Baylor (8-2)
12. Ole Miss (8-2)
13. Oklahoma (9-1)
14. BYU (8-2)
15. Wisconsin (7-3)
16. Texas A&M (7-3)
17. Iowa (8-2)
18. Pittsburgh (8-2)
19. San Diego State (9-1)
20. NC State (7-3)
21. Arkansas (7-3)
22. UTSA (10-0)
23. Utah (7-3)
24. Houston (9-1)
25. Mississippi State (6-4)
