After a 42-13 dismantling of arch-rival Michigan on the road, Urban Meyer's Ohio State team saw their stock rise a bit in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee.
The Buckeyes moved up two spots No. 6 in this week's rankings, released Tuesday, after Saturday's victory against the Wolverines. At 11-1, Ohio State failed to make this Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game after a loss to Michigan State Nov. 21, so it does not have an opportunity to enhance its résumé any more this season.
The Spartans, who are No. 5 in this week's rankings, travel to Indianapolis to face undefeated No. 4 Iowa in a de-facto College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup.
The Buckeyes are also No. 6 in the latest editions of the Coaches and AP Polls, which were announced Sunday.
Following their loss to Ohio State, Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines fell from No. 10 to No. 15 in the rankings. Northwestern moved up two spots to No. 14 after beating Illinois, 24-14, Saturday.
TCU needed double overtime to top Baylor, 28-21, in pouring down rain Friday. Oklahoma all but punched their ticket to the Playoff by manhandling Oklahoma State, 58-23, Saturday to win the Big 12. Notre Dame lost at Stanford on last second field goal to likely end the Irish's Playoff aspirations.
Five conference championships are set to be decided Saturday. The committee is then scheduled to unveil its final batch of rankings at noon Sunday.
The top-six in the latest slate of rankings: Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State.
Full rankings can be seen here.
| Rank | Team | Conf. | Record | Key Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLEMSON | ACC | 12-0 | ACC CHAMPIONSHIP v. NORTH CAROLINA (12/5) |
| 2 | ALABAMA | SEC | 11-1 | SEC CHAMPIONSHIP v. FLORIDA (12/5) |
| 3 | OKLAHOMA | BIG 12 | 11-1 | |
| 4 | IOWA | BIG TEN | 12-0 | B1G CHAMPIONSHIP v. MICHIGAN STATE (12/5) |
| 5 | MICHIGAN STATE | BIG TEN | 11-1 | B1G CHAMPIONSHIP v. IOWA (12/5) |
| 6 | OHIO STATE | BIG TEN | 11-1 | |
| 7 | STANFORD | PAC-12 | 10-2 | PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP v. USC (12/5) |
| 8 | NOTRE DAME | IND | 10-2 | |
| 9 | FLORIDA STATE | ACC | 10-2 | |
| 10 | NORTH CAROLINA | ACC | 11-1 | ACC CHAMPIONSHIP v. CLEMSON (12/5) |
| 11 | TCU | BIG 12 | 10-2 | |
| 12 | BAYLOR | BIG 12 | 9-2 | TEXAS (12/5) |
| 13 | OLE MISS | SEC | 9-3 | |
| 14 | NORTHWESTERN | BIG TEN | 10-2 | |
| 15 | MICHIGAN | BIG TEN | 9-3 | |
| 16 | OREGON | PAC-12 | 9-3 | |
| 17 | OKLAHOMA STATE | BIG 12 | 10-2 | |
| 18 | FLORIDA | SEC | 10-2 | SEC CHAMPIONSHIP v. ALABAMA (12/5) |
| 19 | HOUSTON | AAC | 10-1 | AAC CHAMPIONSHIP v. TEMPLE (12/5) |
| 20 | USC | PAC-12 | 8-4 | PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP v. STANFORD (12/5) |
| 21 | LSU | SEC | 8-3 | |
| 22 | TEMPLE | AAC | 10-2 | AAC CHAMPIONSHIP v. HOUSTON (12/5) |
| 23 | NAVY | AAC | 9-2 | ARMY (12/12) |
| 24 | UTAH | PAC-12 | 9-3 | |
| 25 | TENNESSEE | SEC | 8-4 |
