The fourth edition of the College Football Playoffs Top 25 rankings was released Tuesday, and after beating Austin Peay’s governors 34-0 at home, Alabama climbed one spot to No. 7 in the poll that eventually set the postseason scene will usher in less than two weeks.
The top four teams remained the same as in last week’s rankings: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 TCU. But that will change after this weekend’s games with Ohio State and Michigan. Tennessee’s 63-38 loss in South Carolina caused the Vols to drop five spots to 10th, while LSU and USC each climbed a spot to 5th and 6th, respectively.
Clemson was ranked one spot behind Alabama at No. 8, but the Tigers have two more games ahead of them, including the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 3 against No. 17 North Carolina. No. 9 Oregon and the Vols rounded out the top 10 on the November 22nd ranking.
CFP Select Committee Chair Boo Corrigan discussed Tide and Tigers on ESPN.
“You’re watching the football verdict, right, while we’re going through this,” Corrigan said Tuesday night. “Clemson is 6-1 against teams over .500. Alabama is 6-2 with teams over .500. They both have narrow losses that Alabama obviously has. And that game against Notre Dame, that 35-14 game, is still part of the discussion. They’re looking at Clemson defensively, they’ve got some guys up front doing plays and doing things.
“But overall, we considered Alabama seven and Clemson eight.”
Though Alabama rose in the CFP top-25 rankings, Tuesday was still the fifth time the Tide was ranked outside of the top six teams in 51 total installments. It was also only the third time (now in a row) that both Alabama and Clemson were not in the top six teams.
UA was banned from participating in next month’s SEC championship game. There will be a matchup between LSU and Georgia. With two losses, the Tide’s hopes of making an eighth appearance in the four-team playoffs are all but over. Alabama (9-2, 5-2 SEC) is focused on ending the season strong and hitting 10 wins for 15th straight year.
The SEC landed in Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Tennessee and No. 20 Ole Miss five teams in the top 25 of the college football playoffs, losers in a row. The Tide will end the regular season unranked against Auburn on Saturday, November 26 at 2:30 p.m
The fifth edition of the CFP Rankings will be released on Tuesday, November 29 at 18:00 CT and will mark the penultimate ranking announcement ahead of Selection Sunday on December 4 (11:00).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF TOP 25 RANKING
1. Georgia (11-0)
2. Ohio State (11-0)
3.Michigan (11-0)
4. TCU (11-0)
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5.LSU (9-2)
6.USC (9-1)
7. Alabama (9-2)
8. Clemson (10-1)
9.Oregon (9-2)
10. Tennessee (9-2)
11 Pennsylvania (9-2)
12th State of Kansas (8-3)
13 Washington (9-2)
14 Utah (8-3)
15. Notre Dame (8-3)
16. Florida State (8-3)
17 North Carolina (9-2)
18UCLA (8-3)
19. Tulane (9-2)
20. Ole Miss (8-3)
21. Oregon State (8-3)
22.UCF (8-3)
23 Texas (7-4)
24. Cincinnati (9-2)
25Louisville (7-4)
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