The biggest argument of the penultimate set of College Football Playoff rankings isn’t which teams make up the top four spots. Instead, it’s the teams right behind them — the first two out — that will drive the most controversy.
Which of Ohio State and Alabama will be the fifth team in the Week 14 CFP top 25? Whoever is placed in that position stands to slide into the final four with a loss by one of the top four teams during conference championship weekend. The sixth team will need more help to make the Playoff.
Here’s how things likely stand: Georgia will remain in the top spot, trailed by No. 2 Michigan, fresh off a beatdown of then-No. 2 Ohio State. Following the Wolverines will be some ordering of TCU and USC. A loss by either of the Horned Frogs or Trojans would help the No. 5 team jump into the playoff, despite not playing in Week 14.
The No. 6 team, however, would need both teams to lose to make it in. (Or, considerably less likely, one or both of Georgia and Michigan to suffer blowout losses in their respective conference championships.)
BENDER: Alabama or Ohio State? Who should be No. 5 in College Football Playoff rankings
Even with all the ways conference championship weekend could unfold, each of the top six teams has a relatively clear path to the Playoff. For the top four teams, win and you’re in. For the No. 5 team, hope one of those four loses. For the No. 6 team, hope two fall.
It’s that simple, but no one said anything about it being easy. With that, The Sporting News looks at the latest top 25 teams in the College Football Playoff:
College Football Playoff rankings 2022
Top four CFP teams of fifth CFP poll
There were no surprises among the top four in the fifth College Football Playoff rankings. Georgia remained in the No. 1 spot while Michigan moved up to No. 2 after its 45-23 road win over the previous No. 2-ranked Ohio State. Meanwhile, TCU jumped to No. 3 after completing a 12-0 regular season with a 62-14 win over Iowa State.
As expected, one new team moved into the top four: USC. The Trojans improved to 11-1 after a 38-27 win over 15th-ranked Notre Dame.
Now, all four teams will look to hold serve in their respective conference championship game. USC faces the most pressure to win as the Trojans are the only one-loss team ranked among the top four in the country.
| Ranking | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 12-0 |
| 2 | Michigan | 12-0 |
| 3 | TCU | 12-0 |
| 4 | USC | 11-1 |
MORE: Updated AP Top 25, Coaches Poll rankings for Week 14
First two teams out of fifth CFP poll
Ohio State finds itself on the outside looking in for the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings of the year. The Buckeyes lost by 22 at home to the Wolverines, but they still will have a chance to get into the field of four if one of the teams — likely USC — falters in its conference championship game.
As for Alabama, there were questions about whether the Crimson Tide would be able to jump the Buckeyes given that their two losses came by a combined four points on the road against top-10 opponents.
However, Alabama finds itself behind Ohio State and seems unlikely to make the playoff as a result. It would need USC and TCU to lose at the very least, and even then Alabama wouldn’t be guaranteed to make it in over the Horned Frogs.
| Ranking | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Ohio State | 11-1 |
| 6 | Alabama | 10-2 |
MORE: CFP ranking release dates for 2022
College Football Playoff top 25 rankings
There weren’t too many surprises among the top 25 rankings, as things unfolded largely how most expected. Tennessee fans may gripe that Alabama, a team that they defeated, is ranked ahead of them, but the loss of quarterback Hendon Hooker and their blowout loss against South Carolina cemented them into the No. 7 spot behind the Crimson Tide.
Speaking of South Carolina, the Gamecocks made a monumental jump into the top 20, and are now ranked 19th overall after back-to-back wins over top-10-ranked programs, Tennessee and Clemson. They are the highest-rated of the 8-4 teams at this juncture.
Elsewhere, LSU and Oregon had the most notable falls in this week’s rankings. LSU went from No. 5 all the way down to 14 after the Tigers lost to Texas A&M while the Ducks find themselves behind their rival, the Beavers, at 16 after previously being ranked No. 9 overall.
Worst of all for the Ducks, they will not play No. 4-ranked USC in the Pac-12 championship game. No. 11 Utah (9-3) will instead get that honor.
| Ranking | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 12-0 |
| 2 | Michigan | 12-0 |
| 3 | TCU | 12-0 |
| 4 | USC | 11-1 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 11-1 |
| 6 | Alabama | 10-2 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 10-2 |
| 8 | Penn State | 10-2 |
| 9 | Clemson | 10-2 |
| 10 | Kansas State | 9-3 |
| 11 | Utah | 9-3 |
| 12 | Washington | 10-2 |
| 13 | Florida State | 9-3 |
| 14 | LSU | 9-3 |
| 15 | Oregon State | 9-3 |
| 16 | Oregon | 9-3 |
| 17 | UCLA | 9-3 |
| 18 | Tulane | 10-2 |
| 19 | South Carolina | 8-4 |
| 20 | Texas | 8-4 |
| 21 | Notre Dame | 8-4 |
| 22 | UCF | 9-3 |
| 23 | UNC | 9-3 |
| 24 | Mississippi State | 8-4 |
| 25 | NC State | 8-4 |
MORE: College football bowl projections for championship week
New Year’s Day 6 bowl projections
| Bowl | Date | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Bowl | Dec. 30 | No. 9 Clemson vs. No. 7 Tennessee |
| Sugar Bowl | Dec. 31 | No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 10 Kansas State |
| Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal) | Dec. 31 | No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 USC |
| Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal) | Dec. 31 | No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU |
| Cotton Bowl | Jan. 2 | No. 8 Penn State vs. No. 18 Tulane |
| Rose Bowl | Jan. 2 | No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Utah |
Zac Al-Khateeb contributed to this report.
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