Clemson is No. 1, followed by Auburn, Oklahoma and Wisconsin in the last College Football Playoff rankings before the semifinals are set by the selection committee on Sunday.
Alabama fell from No. 1 to fifth in the new rankings Tuesday night after losing to Auburn, and Georgia was sixth. Miami slipped after taking its first loss of the season last week from No. 2 to seventh, just ahead of Ohio State at eighth.
Each of the top four teams plays a conference title game this Saturday against another top-10 team, creating potential play-in playoff games. Clemson faces Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship; Auburn and Georgia play for the Southeastern Conference title; Wisconsin faces Ohio State for the Big Ten title; and Oklahoma faces No. 10 TCU for the Big 12 title.
If the top four win out, the semifinals likely would fall into place: Clemson would face Wisconsin in the Sugar Bowl semifinal on New Year's Day by virtue of giving the top seed a regional advantage, and Auburn and Oklahoma would play in the Rose Bowl semifinal.
It is likely Miami would jump into the top four by beating No. 1 Clemson and winning the ACC and same goes for Georgia if it can win a rematch against Auburn. The intrigue would start if Oklahoma and/or Wisconsin lose.
The selection committee could be faced with an Alabama (11-1) or Ohio State (10-2) choice. The Crimson Tide's resume is no wins against teams currently in the top 15, but the Buckeyes have two losses by double digits, including a 31-point blowout at Iowa.
TOPPED BY TIGERS
Two sets of Tigers, Clemson and Auburn, head the College Football Playoff rankings entering Saturday's slate of conference championships:
- 1. Clemson (11-1)
- 2. Auburn (10-2)
- 3. Oklahoma (11-1)
- 4. Wisconsin (12-0)
- 5. Alabama (11-1)
- 6. Georgia (11-1)
- 7. Miami (10-1)
- 8. Ohio State (10-2)
- 9. Penn State (10-2)
- 10. Southern California (10-2)
- 11. TCU (10-2)
- 12. Stanford (9-3)
- 13. Washington (10-2)
- 14. Central Florida (11-0)
- 15. Notre Dame (9-3)
- 16. Michigan State (9-3)
- 17. LSU (9-3)
- 18. Washington State (9-3)
- 19. Oklahoma State (9-3)
- 20. Memphis (10-1)
- 21. Northwestern (9-3)
- 22. Virginia Tech (9-3)
- 23. Mississippi State (8-4)
- 24. N.C. State (8-4)
- 25. Fresno State (9-3)