COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

CFP Rankings: Michigan up to No. 2 after big win

Field Level Media

December 01, 2021 at 12:54 am.

Michigan rose three spots to No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, moving into position for its first appearance in the four-team playoff.

The Wolverines (11-1) rose after beating Ohio State 42-27 Saturday, which prompted the Buckeyes to fall five spots to No. 7 this week. It was Michigan’s first win over its archrival since 2011, and moves the Wolverines into the Big Ten Championship game for the first time, facing West Division champion Iowa on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Michigan is a 10.5-point favorite to win the Big Ten title fight, which would surely boost the Big Blue into its first College Football Playoff field since the playoffs were instituted in the 2014 season. Michigan last won the national championship in 1997, sharing the title with Nebraska.

Georgia remained No. 1 and Alabama stayed at No. 3 despite struggling to put away Auburn in a four-overtime Iron Bowl.

Cincinnati — with Georgia, one of the only two undefeated teams remaining in the country — held at No. 4 in its bid to become the first team from outside the Power Five conferences to reach the playoff.

Oklahoma State rose two spots to No. 5 by beating rival Oklahoma 37-33. The Cowboys will face Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game with a shot at finishing as a 12-1 conference champion, providing a good argument for its playoff hopes.

Oklahoma State leapfrogged No. 6 Notre Dame, which stayed pat as it deals with the aftermath of coach Brian Kelly leaving the Fighting Irish program this week to accept the same job at LSU.

Behind Ohio State, Ole Miss passed Baylor to become No. 8, relegating the Bears to No. 9, and Oregon rounds out the top 10.

No. 23 Kentucky (8-4) and No. 24 Louisiana (11-1) entered the rankings. Wisconsin fell all the way from No. 14 to out of the Top 25 following its loss to Minnesota. UTSA also dropped out of the Top 25, as well, after its first loss of the season to North Texas.

Below is the complete Top 25:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Alabama
4. Cincinnati
5. Oklahoma State
6. Notre Dame
7. Ohio State
8. Ole Miss
9. Baylor
10. Oregon
11. Michigan State
12. BYU
13. Iowa
14. Oklahoma
15. Pitt
16. Wake Forest
17. Utah
18. North Carolina State
19. San Diego State
20. Clemson
21. Houston
22. Arkansas
23. Kentucky
24. Louisiana
25. Texas A&M