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The first College Football Playoff Rankings were unveiled last week to much fanfare, but perhaps the most interesting set of rankings is the second, so fans, bloggers and everybody else could get an idea for how the committee will evaluate teams after their initial thoughts from a week before.
Ohio State climbed to 13 in the AP Poll after thumping Illinois last week, and thanks to an impressive showing and some losses by teams ahead of them, the Buckeyes rose to number 14 in the second week of the rankings that actually decide who makes the playoffs.
Michigan State remained at 8, setting up a major showdown this Saturday that will have major implications in the Big Ten championship race, while the loser will find themselves out of the playoff picture completely.
Ohio State likely continues to be hamstrung by their loss to Virginia Tech, who has continued to struggle, and their lack of a proverbial "signature win", like many of the other one-loss teams ahead of them. The Buckeyes will get their big shot this Saturday, and will undoubtedly move up the rankings a little more dramatically should they win.
Nebraska remains ahead of the Buckeyes at 15. Wisconsin is the only other Big Ten team ranked, at 25. Ohio State will need to win out, and get a little bit of help, if they're to overcome that terrible loss and a bad Big Ten schedule.
Rank | Team | Last week | Week 10 result | Toughest opponent left (per F/+) | If the season ended today ... |
1 | Mississippi State (8-0) | 1 | Won 17-10 vs. Arkansas | Ole Miss | Sugar Bowl vs. Oregon |
2 | Florida State (8-0) | 2 | Won 42-31 at No. 25 Louisville | Miami | Rose Bowl vs. Auburn |
3 | Auburn (7-1) | 3 | Won 35-31 at No. 4 Ole Miss | Alabama | Rose Bowl vs. Florida State |
4 | Oregon (8-1) | 5 | Won 45-16 vs. Stanford | Utah | Sugar Bowl vs. Mississippi State |
5 | Alabama (7-1) | 6 | Idle | Auburn | Orange Bowl |
6 | TCU (7-1) | 7 | Won 31-30 at No. 20 WVU | Kansas State | New Year's bowl |
7 | Kansas State (7-1) | 9 | Won 48-14 vs. Oklahoma St. | TCU | New Year's bowl |
8 | Michigan State (7-1) | 8 | Idle | Ohio State | New Year's bowl |
9 | Arizona State (7-1) | 14 | Won 19-16 vs. No. 17 Utah | Notre Dame | New Year's bowl |
10 | Notre Dame (7-1) | 10 | Won 49-39 at Navy | Louisville | New Year's bowl |
11 | Ole Miss (7-2) | 4 | Lost 35-31 vs. No. 3 Auburn | Mississippi State | New Year's bowl |
12 | Baylor (7-1) | 13 | Won 60-14 vs. Kansas | Oklahoma | |
13 | Nebraska (8-1) | 15 | Won 35-14 vs. Purdue | Wisconsin | |
14 | Ohio State (7-1) | 16 | Won 55-14 vs. Illinois | Michigan State | |
15 | Oklahoma (6-2) | 18 | Won 59-14 at Iowa St. | Baylor | |
16 | LSU (7-2) | 19 | Idle | Alabama | |
17 | Utah (6-2) | 17 | Lost 19-16 at No. 14 Arizona St. | Oregon | |
18 | UCLA (7-2) | 22 | Won 17-7 vs. No. 12 Arizona | USC | |
19 | Arizona (6-2) | 12 | Lost 17-7 at No. 22 UCLA | Arizona State | |
20 | Georgia (6-2) | 11 | Lost 38-20 vs. Florida | Auburn | |
21 | Clemson (6-2) | 21 | Idle | Georgia Tech | Orange Bowl |
22 | Duke (7-1) | 24 | Won 51-48 at Pittsburgh | Virginia Tech | |
23 | West Virginia (6-3) | 20 | Lost 31-30 vs. No. 7 TCU | Kansas State | |
24 | Georgia Tech (7-2) | NR | Won 35-10 vs. Virginia | Clemson | |
25 | Wisconsin (6-2) | NR | Won 37-0 at Rutgers | Nebraska |