ND 2nd, NU 8th in CFP rankings

Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season released Tuesday. The Crimson Tide was followed by Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State.

The Buckeyes led five Big Ten teams in the rankings. Northwestern was No. 8, Indiana No. 12, Wisconsin No. 16 and Iowa No. 24.

The rankings will be released each of the next three Tuesdays before the final one is revealed Sunday, Dec. 20. The top four teams in the final rankings will play in national semifinals Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, with the winners squaring off for the title Jan. 11 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

† Minnesota called off its game Saturday at Wisconsin because of positive COVID-19 cases in its program. The Gophers said nine players and six staff members had tested positive in the last five days.

The cancellation, which means it will be the first time in 114 years the schools won’t play, likely will knock the Badgers out of consideration for the Big Ten championship game. Conference protocols this season say teams must play at least six games to be eligible for the title game, and Wisconsin (2-1) had to call off games earlier in the season against Nebraska and Purdue because of a COVID-19 outbreak of its own. The Badgers have only two games left.

† Purdue will be without defensive end George Karlaftis for three weeks after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Big Ten guidelines require players who test positive for COVID-19 to sit out 21 days.