An ugly performance against a top-10 opponent typically means a drop in the rankings, which Ohio State experienced for the third time in three days Tuesday.
Urban Meyer's Buckeyes fell to No. 8 in the latest set of rankings released by the College Football Playoff committee, announced on ESPN. It shouldn't really come as a surprise after the team's 17-14 loss to Michigan State Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
It's the first time this season the Buckeyes have been ranked anywhere but No. 3 in the Playoff poll. Sunday, Ohio State dropped six spots to No. 8 in both the AP and and Coaches Polls.
The Spartans leapt up from No. 9 to No. 5 after their victory over the Buckeyes, which knocked Ohio State from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Big Ten still possesses one of two teams in the country without a loss, as West Division Champion Iowa checks in at No. 4 this week.
The Hawkeyes booked their trip to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game with a 40-20 victory against Purdue Saturday. Who they play will be determined Saturday, as Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan all have 6-1 conference records.
The Wolverines check in at No. 10 in this week's rankings, up from No. 12. The lone other Big Ten team in the rankings is Northwestern at No. 16, who defeated Wisconsin, 13-7, Saturday. The Badgers are not ranked this week.
College football lost two more undefeated teams outside of Ohio State Saturday. Oklahoma State lost to Baylor and Tom Herman's Houston Cougars dropped a road contest to Connecticut.
The top-six in the latest set of rankings are as follows: Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame.
The full rankings can be seen here.
Ohio State and Michigan kick off in Ann Arbor at noon Saturday.
| Rank | Team | Conf. | Record | Key Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLEMSON | ACC | 11-0 | ACC CHAMPIONSHIP v. NORTH CAROLINA (12/5) |
| 2 | ALABAMA | SEC | 10-1 | @ AUBURN (11/28) |
| 3 | OKLAHOMA | BIG 12 | 10-1 | @ OKLAHOMA STATE (11/28) |
| 4 | IOWA | BIG TEN | 11-0 | @ NEBRASKA (11/27), B1G CHAMPIONSHIP (12/5) |
| 5 | MICHIGAN STATE | BIG TEN | 10-1 | PENN STATE (11/28) |
| 6 | NOTRE DAME | IND | 10-1 | @ STANFORD (11/28) |
| 7 | BAYLOR | BIG 12 | 9-1 | @ TCU (11/27) |
| 8 | OHIO STATE | BIG TEN | 10-1 | @ MICHIGAN (11/28) |
| 9 | STANFORD | PAC-12 | 9-2 | NOTRE DAME (11/28) |
| 10 | MICHIGAN | BIG TEN | 9-2 | OHIO STATE (11/28) |
| 11 | OKLAHOMA STATE | BIG 12 | 10-1 | OKLAHOMA (11/28) |
| 12 | FLORIDA | SEC | 10-1 | FLORIDA STATE (11/28), SEC CHAMPIONSHIP (12/5) |
| 13 | FLORIDA STATE | ACC | 9-2 | @ FLORIDA (11/28) |
| 14 | NORTH CAROLINA | ACC | 10-1 | ACC CHAMPIONSHIP v. CLEMSON (12/5) |
| 15 | NAVY | AAC | 9-1 | @ HOUSTON (11/27) |
| 16 | NORTHWESTERN | BIG TEN | 9-2 | ILLINOIS (11/28) |
| 17 | OREGON | PAC-12 | 8-3 | OREGON STATE (11/27) |
| 18 | OLE MISS | SEC | 8-3 | @ MISSISSIPPI STATE (11/28) |
| 19 | TCU | BIG 12 | 9-2 | BAYLOR (11/27) |
| 20 | WASHINGTON STATE | PAC-12 | 8-3 | @ WASHINGTON (11/27) |
| 21 | MISSISSIPPI STATE | SEC | 8-3 | OLE MISS (11/28) |
| 22 | UCLA | PAC-12 | 8-3 | @ USC (11/28) |
| 23 | UTAH | PAC-12 | 8-3 | COLORADO (11/28) |
| 24 | TOLEDO | MAC | 9-1 | WESTERN MICHIGAN (11/27) |
| 25 | TEMPLE | AAC | 9-2 | UCONN (11/28) |
