Penn State moves up in new College Football Playoff rankings

#17 North Carolina, who was on track to win the ACC Coastal, lost to Duke.

With the second College Football Playoff Poll in the books, the University of Wisconsin football team’s pathway to the 2016 playoff is as clear as it has ever been. Although Ohio State won, uncertainty still surrounds their future.

There continues to be a significant debate over Louisville, which is ranked No. 5, behind Clemson. Other teams who were positioned in the top 10 either lost (A&M and Auburn), or have more than one loss (Wisconsin and Penn State). It had never happened, and we’re up to 49 things that have never happened here at Western Michigan. MI and Ohio State play on November 26 in a game that could have a playoff berth at stake, though the victor would still have to win the Big Ten title game.

Oklahoma is also back in playoff contention, albeit on the outside looking in, despite being left for dead earlier this season.

Alabama obviously stays atop the list, but then what?

Louisville and Washington fill in the fifth and sixth spots respectively. MI was third last week and stayed third despite a loss at Iowa last Saturday.

A possible path the Cardinals: The Pac-12 picks itself apart and produces a champion with at least two losses and the Big 12 does the same. The Crimson Tide is the first unanimous No. 1 since Ohio State on September 8, 2015. Clemson is the only school in the nation with four wins over AP Top 25 teams. Regardless, any change won’t occur, if at all for a couple of weeks. In this case, it would be No. 8 Penn State. Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades was at Missouri a year ago when the Tigers passed on a bowl invite when they were going through a coaching search. Meanwhile, Penn State won’t be far behind.

Do not underestimate Colorado. They don’t look like a playoff team but as of right now, they are one. Oklahoma State is No. 12 and will get a shot at rival Oklahoma on the final weekend. The Buckeyes have a nonconference victory over Oklahoma, which might win the Big 12. Wyoming is the only team to beat Boise State. Join the Factory of Sadness team!

Week 11 featured some of the biggest upsets of the season and it’s going to completely shake up the committee’s rankings that come out on Tuesday. The success the Buffaloes has had is very much deserved.

Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck told reporters Tuesday afternoon he is happy where the team is ranked and doesn’t put much thought into it all.