Saturday's win over Michigan has vaulted Ohio State right back into the playoff conversation as the Buckeyes jump to No. 6 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings.
Ohio State comes in just behind No. 5 Oklahoma, after the Sooners dispatched West Virginia 59-56. The top four rounds out with Alabama remaining at the top, followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 Georgia.
The Buckeyes have one final chance to improve their playoff resume with a top-25 showdown against No. 21 Northwestern in Saturday night's Big Ten Championship Game. Meanwhile, Oklahoma take on No. 14 Texas and Clemson battles Pitt as they look to bolster their own resumes.
Alabama and Georgia also meet in Saturday's SEC Championship Game with obvious playoff implications.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | KEY GAMES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALABAMA | 12-0 | #4 GEORGIA (SEC TITLE GAME) |
| 2 | CLEMSON | 12-0 | PITTSBURGH (ACC TITLE GAME) |
| 3 | NOTRE DAME | 12-0 | |
| 4 | GEORGIA | 11-1 | #1 ALABAMA (SEC TITLE GAME) |
| 5 | OKLAHOMA | 11-1 | #14 TEXAS (BIG XII TITLE GAME) |
| 6 | OHIO STATE | 11-1 | #21 NORTHWESTERN (BIG TEN TITLE GAME) |
| 7 | MICHIGAN | 10-2 | |
| 8 | UCF | 11-0 | MEMPHIS (AAC TITLE GAME) |
| 9 | FLORIDA | 9-3 | |
| 10 | LSU | 9-3 | |
| 11 | WASHINGTON | 9-3 | #17 UTAH (PAC 12 TITLE GAME) |
| 12 | PENN STATE | 9-3 | |
| 13 | WASHINGTON STATE | 10-2 | |
| 14 | TEXAS | 9-3 | #5 OKLAHOMA (BIG XII TITLE GAME) |
| 15 | KENTUCKY | 9-3 | |
| 16 | WEST VIRGINIA | 8-3 | |
| 17 | UTAH | 9-3 | #11 WASHINGTON (PAC 12 TITLE GAME) |
| 18 | MISSISSIPPI STATE | 8-4 | |
| 19 | TEXAS A&M | 8-4 | |
| 20 | SYRACUSE | 9-3 | |
| 21 | NORTHWESTERN | 8-4 | #6 OHIO STATE (BIG TEN TITLE GAME) |
| 22 | BOISE STATE | 10-2 | #25 FRESNO STATE (MOUNTAIN WEST TITLE GAME) |
| 23 | IOWA STATE | 7-4 | |
| 24 | MISSOURI | 8-4 | |
| 25 | FRESNO STATE | 10-2 | #22 BOISE STATE (MOUNTAIN WEST TITLE GAME) |
