College Football Playoff Rankings: Ohio State moves up to 14

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.