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College Football Playoff Rankings: Ohio State moves up to 14

Thanks to a resounding win over Illinois, Ohio State moves up a little in the College Football Playoff Rankings

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

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