COLUMBUS – Bouyed by its mauling of No. 4 Michigan in the regular season finale for both teams, Ohio State moved up four spots in the second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings of the season to No. 6.
Oklahoma was No. 5 heading into championship weekend when the final four will be set and the CFP selection committee will likely choose between either the Buckeyes or Sooners to fill the fourth spot in the rankings, earning a shot at a national championship.
Ohio State (11-1, 8-1) faces Northwestern in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis Saturday (8:00 p.m./FOX) and Oklahoma rematches Texas in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas.
The top three teams in the selection committee’s rankings, released Tuesday, held steady for a fourth straight week. Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame — all unbeaten — are Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
Georgia moved into the fourth spot that was previously occupied by Michigan, heading into its SEC championship game against Alabama. It’s a given the SEC winner makes the playoff.
Notre Dame is already in the clubhouse at 12-0 and Clemson faces Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
That leaves one spot very much in play and the committee has decided that the choice may come down to Ohio State or Oklahoma.
If Georgia upsets Alabama both the Buckeyes and Sooners will likely be excluded in favor of the two SEC teams.
But, if the Tide roll and neither OSU or OU are winners Saturday, the committee could find itself looking for a fourth option, such as 8th-ranked 11-0 Central Florida, the Bulldogs, or even, yes, 10-2 Michigan, right behind the Buckeyes at No. 7.
-0-
Twelve Ohio State defensive players were named to all-Big Ten Conference teams announced Tuesday. Junior tackle Dre’mont Jones led the way with a first-team honor on the coaches’ ballot. Jones leads the defense with 12 tackles for loss, including 7.5 quarterback sacks, this season.
Punter Drue Chrisman was named to the All-Big Ten second team for special teams players.