Latest playoff rankings look promising for Ohio State

Ohio State remained at No. 2 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, and MI stayed at No. 3, despite both teams’ winning closer-than-expected games.

Even if they wanted to, it will be hard for the Penn State players to avoid finding out what’s happening in the Ohio State-Michigan game.

A Lions’ win over Michigan State Saturday needs to be coupled with an Ohio State victory against Michigan.

A week ago in the rankings, the Wolverines (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) had remained at No. 3 last week despite their loss at Iowa. The only other team with a possible case to be had for inclusion in this week’s top four was Washington, which bounced back from its only loss, to Southern California, with a smooth win against Arizona State.

As the highest rated two-loss team already, the Badgers will have a chance to win the Big Ten title and beat a top 10 team to do it.

The top four spots remained No. 1 Alabama (11-0), No. 2 Ohio State (9-1), No. 3 MI (10-1) and No. 4 Clemson (10-1), with the biggest development coming at the No. 5 spot.

Would the committee choose to put Ohio State in and leave Penn State out?

Hocutt also said the conference championship is one of four metrics used when there is “little to no separation” and each committee member can value it their own way. “We spent considerable time talking about Washington at the 5 spot and believe that’s where they are at this point in the college football season, but there’s a lot to like about Washington”.

Check out the highlights from Week 12 of college football and where each team is ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll. MI beat IN in the snow last week with the fewest passing yards it has recorded IN a game since 2001.

Games remaining: Saturday vs. We’ll see how it goes this week with some games and then championship week, we’re out there first. Auburn 14. Florida State 15. The question now: What if Alabama loses to Florida in Atlanta?

Perhaps the worst thing Ohio State or MI to do at this point is to get to the Big Ten championship and lose. Florida 16. Nebraska 17.

Games remaining: Saturday vs. MI (10-1); potentially December 3 Big Ten championship game vs. TBD.

The Big Ten Conference blocks OU’s path like four jack-knifed semis. The Tigers are a heavy favorite, but another loss to unranked team eliminates them from playoff consideration.

MI will win the Big Ten East Division if it beats Ohio State. Penn State or Wisconsin winning the Big Ten.

Reason for optimism: The defense just held a talented IN team to 10 points.

SC at Clemson (6:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN): Clemson – OU’s postseason nemesis during the past two seasons – will host Senior Day against the in-state rival Gamecocks in the regular-season finale.

After skyrocketing up the College Football Playoff rankings, the USC Trojans appear to have hit a bit of a wall and will in all likelihood need some upsets to continue moving up the rankings. O’Korn completed seven of 16 passes for 59 yards last week against IN, the fewest passing yards by MI IN a game since 2001.

The best thing that could happen for Ohio State right now is for Washington and Penn State to lose a game.

Series record: Oklahoma leads 85-18-7. But first the Tigers have to take care of SC – which has won four of its past five games – in Death Valley. The game usually has special meaning because both schools recruit in-state talent – almost 100 players from Kansas dot the rosters of the two teams. Louisville 12. Southern California 13.

UW (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) benefitted from then-No.