Georgia, Ohio St., Michigan, TCU stay on high of CFP rankings

After overcoming robust video games in opposition to unranked opponents, the highest 4 groups within the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings remained the identical Tuesday night time, whereas LSU stayed one spot forward of USC at No. 5.

Georgia led off the CFP choice committee’s rankings for the third straight week, adopted by Ohio State at No. 2, Michigan at No. 3 and TCU at No. 4. The Buckeyes and Wolverines, who play this coming Saturday in Columbus, each trailed within the second half final week earlier than retaining their undefeated information intact. Michigan and TCU each wanted go-ahead discipline objectives within the closing minute to carry off Illinois and Baylor, respectively.

USC’s dramatic highway win over crosstown rival UCLA wasn’t sufficient to leapfrog two-loss LSU, which beat UAB 41-10 at Tiger Stadium. Lincoln Riley’s workforce appeared at No. 5 in each the AP and Coaches’ polls on Sunday, USC’s first AP top-five rating since September 2017. The Trojans’ solely loss got here by one level on the highway in opposition to Utah, which fell to No. 14 after its loss at Oregon.

“That was a dominant dialog for the final couple of days, to verify we have been taking a look at it the fitting means,” CFP committee chair Boo Corrigan, the athletic director at NC State, mentioned on ESPN’s rankings launch present with reference to the selection at No. 5. “There’s causes for USC to be at No. 5, there’s causes for LSU to be at No. 5.”

Tennessee, which occupied the No. 5 spot final week, fell to No. 10 after its 63-38 highway loss to South Carolina.

LSU finishes the common season at Texas A&M earlier than going through Georgia within the SEC championship recreation. USC this week hosts Notre Dame, which moved up three spots to No. 15 within the choice committee’s rankings. The Trojans’ Pac-12 championship opponent shall be decided this coming weekend, though Oregon, which moved up three spots to No. 9 after the Utah win, can clinch a spot in Las Vegas by beating No. 21 Oregon State on the highway.

An Oregon loss this week would open the door for No. 13 Washington and Utah to succeed in the Pac-12 championship.

Alabama and Clemson each moved up a spot within the rankings to No. 7 and No. 8. Clemson won’t host a ranked South Carolina workforce Saturday, however has wins over Florida State, which moved up three spots to No. 16, and Louisville, which entered the rankings at No. 25. Clemson is about for an ACC championship matchup with North Carolina, which solely fell 4 spots to No. 17 after shedding to a 4-6 Georgia Tech workforce at house this previous Saturday.

“You are in search of soccer judgement, and that recreation in opposition to Notre Dame … that continues to be a part of the dialogue,” Corrigan mentioned with reference to the Tigers’ 35-14 loss to the Irish. “General, we noticed at Alabama at seven, and Clemson at eight.”

TCU, which hosts Iowa State on Saturday, will face both No. 12 Kansas State or No. 23 Texas in subsequent week’s Massive 12 championship recreation. Kansas State, which moved up three spots in Tuesday’s rankings, can clinch a spot by beating Kansas. If Kansas State falls, Texas would go if it beats Baylor.

“We undergo the identical factor each week,” Corrigan mentioned. “TCU has performed a very good job find methods to win video games.”

Tulane is as soon as once more the highest-ranked Group of 5 workforce at No. 19, following its house win over SMU and UCF’s house loss to Navy. The Inexperienced Wave on Friday go to No. 24 Cincinnati, and the winner will host the American Athletic Convention title recreation subsequent week. The Tulane-Cincinnati winner might face a rematch within the championship, however No. 22 UCF and Houston additionally might attain the sport.