Michigan’s win in opposition to Ohio State strikes the Wolverines as much as No. 2 on this week’s rankings and leaves 4 undefeated Energy 5 groups coming into the weekend. If Georgia, Michigan, Washington and Florida State win, it’s a simple choice. However the SEC, Pac-12 and ACC video games may very well be very aggressive and see undefeated groups lose, giving the committee its hardest selections since 2014.
Oregon nonetheless doubtless has the strongest case amongst one-loss groups. The Geese have been the top-ranked one-loss crew by the committee final week, and in the event that they beat Washington, they’ll avenge their solely lack of the season. Oregon entered the week as a 9.5-point favourite on BetMGM. An Alabama win in opposition to Georgia would create essentially the most chaos, however can you set the Crimson Tide forward of a Texas crew that gained in Tuscaloosa?
It’s not possible to foretell what the outcomes will probably be and what the committee will do. Let’s simply respect essentially the most consequential convention championship weekend we’ve had in a very long time.
GO DEEPER
Behind the AP High 25 poll: Oregon-Washington making Pac-12 historical past and extra takeaways
The common season has come to an in depth, that means groups with dropping seasons have basically locked of their remaining positions in these rankings, pending some small strikes because of bowl video games. However there can nonetheless be a whole lot of change within the higher half. Right here is that this week’s Athletic 133.
1-10
The one query within the prime 9 was the place to position Ohio State, despite the fact that it might be finally irrelevant to the Playoff image with the opposite one-loss groups taking part in in championship video games. Right here, the Buckeyes fall a couple of spots however stay as the highest one-loss crew as a result of they’ve two good wins (Penn State, Notre Dame) plus a one-score loss to the No. 2 crew. Oregon has dominated opponents in victory however has no wins over present top-20 groups and a one-score loss to No. 3 Washington. Texas beat Alabama and has a one-score loss to Oklahoma however doesn’t have a second top-25 win. Alabama, in fact, misplaced to Texas and nonetheless has an unpleasant efficiency in opposition to USF on the resume to go along with some good wins (Ole Miss, LSU).
All of these groups might leap Ohio State (and get into the CFP) in the event that they win their convention championship video games, and so they’ll nonetheless doubtless end in New 12 months’s Six video games in the event that they lose. Do I feel Ohio State would beat these groups proper now? Maybe not. However we attempt to emphasize resume and head-to-head in these rankings.
The No. 9 and 10 spots are essential for NY6 functions. Ole Miss really jumps Missouri right here due to its wins in opposition to LSU and Tulane (although the Inexperienced Wave have been taking part in with their backup QB). Whereas Missouri performed Georgia shut, its finest win was both Tennessee, Kansas State or Memphis, none of that are in my prime 25, and the Tigers additionally misplaced to LSU, whom Ole Miss beat.
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Emerson: Georgia’s three-peat hopes depend upon beating acquainted nemesis
11-25
| Rank | Crew | File | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
10-2 |
14 |
|
|
12 |
10-2 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
9-3 |
13 |
|
|
14 |
9-3 |
15 |
|
|
15 |
10-2 |
9 |
|
|
16 |
9-3 |
17 |
|
|
17 |
11-1 |
20 |
|
|
18 |
12-0 |
22 |
|
|
19 |
11-1 |
21 |
|
|
20 |
9-3 |
18 |
|
|
21 |
8-4 |
16 |
|
|
22 |
9-3 |
23 |
|
|
23 |
10-2 |
24 |
|
|
24 |
11-1 |
25 |
|
|
25 |
10-2 |
26 |
Oklahoma slides as much as No. 11 after beating TCU. Though No. 12 Penn State has higher losses (Ohio State, Michigan), the Sooners have higher wins (Texas, SMU, larger margin of victory in opposition to West Virginia), and it’s potential Oklahoma might stand up to No. 10 if Texas wins the Large 12 and SMU wins the AAC. Louisville slides all the way down to No. 15 after dropping to Kentucky, one spot forward of Notre Dame because of their head-to-head outcome.
Tulane beat UTSA and stays the highest Group of 5 crew at No. 17, forward of a conflict with No. 25 SMU. Liberty is 12-0, and the early-season win in opposition to now-10-win New Mexico State is a top quality win. James Madison is 11-1 and going bowling, however it’s not eligible for the New 12 months’s Six. The large query is whether or not the CFP committee would put a two-loss AAC champion SMU over a probably 13-0 Liberty.
GO DEEPER
Sampson: Notre Dame’s largely profitable season can’t characterize a peak
26-50
Not a lot change on this group. Kansas State drops out of the highest 25 after a loss to Iowa State. New Mexico State is as much as No. 31 after beating Jacksonville State to maneuver to 10-3. Kentucky’s win in opposition to Louisville strikes the Wildcats as much as No. 43, whereas No. 48 Northwestern and No. 49 Maryland transfer into the highest 25 after wins in opposition to Illinois and Rutgers, respectively. Northwestern has the head-to-head over the Terps. No. 45 Iowa State beat Kansas State however stays behind 9-3 Ohio because of their head-to-head outcome. Appalachian State whipped Georgia Southern 55-27 to maneuver as much as No. 50 with 5 consecutive wins to shut the common season.
51-75
Georgia Tech slides as much as No. 51 after battling Georgia to an eight-point loss. Cal jumps as much as No. 55 after beating UCLA however stays behind Auburn as a result of head-to-head. Fresno State drops to No. 61 after ending its common season with losses to New Mexico and San Diego State, however the Bulldogs keep forward of Boise State because of their head-to-head win. San Jose State strikes as much as No. 70 after beating UNLV and shutting its common season with six consecutive wins.
76-100
Colorado ended its season dropping eight of its final 9 video games after a 3-0 begin, and Deion Sanders’ group sits at No. 79. Bowling Inexperienced rises to No. 83 after beating Western Michigan and profitable 5 of its final six video games, with the lone loss in opposition to Toledo. No. 87 USF obtained to 6-6 after beating Charlotte 48-14, and Alex Golesh put collectively some of the spectacular seasons for a first-year coach this season. Previous Dominion beat Georgia State on the buzzer to complete 6-6 and transfer as much as No. 88. The Monarchs performed 10 one-score video games this season. Utah State beat New Mexico in double-overtime and Louisiana beat ULM, as each obtained to bowl eligibility.
GO DEEPER
Feldman’s candidates to exchange Dana Holgorsen at Houston
101-133
No. 103 Northern Illinois and No. 106 Jap Michigan each gained to get to bowl eligibility, however EMU stays behind Western Michigan and Central Michigan because of losses in opposition to each. Vanderbilt finishes because the lowest-ranked Energy 5 crew at No. 114; Baylor is the following closest at No. 109. Sam Houston closed its season with a walk-off area aim in opposition to Center Tennessee, profitable three of its final 4 video games after an 0-8 begin. UConn gained its remaining two video games in opposition to Sacred Coronary heart and UMass to maneuver as much as No. 120. Tulsa’s win in opposition to East Carolina sees the Golden Hurricane end at No. 125 and the Pirates end at No. 128. Kent State finishes as No. 133, having gone 0-11 in opposition to FBS competitors.
The Athletic 133 Rankings collection is a part of a partnership with AllState.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions don’t have any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t overview tales earlier than publication.
(Picture: Steph Chambers / Getty Pictures)
