COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes held onto the no. 2 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings heading into their annual rivalry game with Michigan, which is right behind them in the top four.
(2) Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. (3) Michigan (10-1, 7-1), Ohio Stadium Sat. Nov. 26 (Noon/ABC)
Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson held the top four spots in rankings for the second straight week and Washington moved up a spot to fifth this week.
The loser of the game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines is likely to be out of the playoff race. The Wolverines would move on the Big Ten championship game by beating the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes, though, need help to reach the conference title game.
Wisconsin, expected to be the West Division’s representative to the Big Ten title game and a possible beneficiary of any major stumbles by Ohio State or Michigan, is sixth in the selection committee rankings released Tuesday night.
Louisville was the team that took a big drop. The Cardinals fell from fifth to 11th after losing at Houston.
Unbeaten Alabama meets Auburn on Saturday, but the Crimson Tide has already clinched a spot in the SEC title game.