NEW YORK, Sporting Alert – Michigan slipped three places in the College Football Playoff rankings but is still not out in the cold, as Alabama and Ohio State stay No. 1 and No. 2 in the latest poll.
The Wolverines (11-1, 7-2 Big Ten) dropped from third to fifth in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings after losing to the Buckeyes, 30-27, last Saturday, but by placing them at No. 5, the selection committee is clearly not ruling them out of making the top four.
With Michigan sliding out of the top four this week, Pac-12 front-runners Washington moves up to No. 4 in the rankings and will be hoping to staple down that spot with a win in the Pac-12 title game against rival Colorado this weekend.
As expected, Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC) continues to be the top team in the rankings and should to be safe even with a loss in the SEC title game against Florida this weekend.
Ohio State is still second, despite being bumped out of the Big Ten championships game, while Clemson moves up one spot to No. 3 after clubbing South Carolina 56-7 at the weekend.
Wisconsin and Penn State who will face-off for the Big Ten title this coming weekend, hold their spots at No. 6 and No. 7 with Colorado sitting at No. 8.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State complete the top 10 and will meet for the Big 12 title on Saturday
However, with the Sooners dropping to No. 9 this week it looks highly unlikely that the Big 12 will have a representative in the playoffs this season.
In fact, according to FiveThirtyEight, even if the Cowboys (9-2, 7-1 Big 12) were to beat Oklahoma (9-2, 8-0) in Saturday’s Bedlam game, they would have only a five-percent chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Meanwhile, despite winning its eight straight last week, USC did not move from No. 11, while Florida State is at No. 12, Louisville is 13th, Auburn is 14th and Florida comes in at No. 15.
West Virginia, Western Michigan, Stanford, Navy and Utah are 16 through 20.
LSU, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Houston and Pittsburgh make up the last five.
Nebraska 16, Boise State 19 and Washington State 23, are the teams which dropped from the rankings.
The final Selection Day is Sunday, December 4.
College Football Playoff
Tuesday, Nov. 29
RANK TEAM RECORD
1 Alabama 12-0
2 Ohio State 11-1
3 Clemson 11-1
4 Washington 11-1
5 Michigan 10-2
6 Wisconsin 10-2
7 Penn State 10-2
8 Colorado 10-2
9 Oklahoma 9-2
10 Oklahoma State 9-2
11 Southern California 9-3
12 Florida State 9-3
13 Louisville 9-3
14 Auburn 8-4
15 Florida 8-3
16 West Virginia 9-2
17 Western Michigan 12-0
18 Stanford 9-3
19 Navy 9-2
20 Utah 8-4
21 Louisiana State 7-4
22 Tennessee 8-4
23 Virginia Tech 9-3
24 Houston 9-3
25 Pittsburgh 8-4
Dropped from rankings: Nebraska 16, Boise State 19, Washington State 23
