Top 8 schools remain in place
Ohio State remained No. in the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night, with Georgia, Michigan and Florida State following the Buckeyes, as the selection committee stood pat with its top eight teams.
Washington was fifth, followed by Pac-12 rival Oregon, Texas and Alabama at eighth.
Only one of the top 11 teams in last week’s first CFP rankings lost last weekend. Oklahoma dropped from ninth to 17th after losing to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys moved up to 15th.
This weekend sets up as one with potential to shake up the top four, with Georgia and Michigan both facing their highest-ranked opponents so far.
The Bulldogs host Mississippi, the committee’s ninth-ranked team. The Wolverines visit Penn State, which is 10th. Washington also faces a ranked team, with No. 18 Utah, coming to Seattle on Saturday.
Looming over the end of the season is the Michigan situation. The playoff committee says it is not considering allegations of Michigan’s sign-stealing in its deliberations, calling it an NCAA matter.
But the Big Ten has notified Michigan of potential discipline from the conference. The school is preparing to take possible legal action if the program is punished before a full investigation into allegations of impermissible scouting and sign stealing, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The potential for a court fight has increased in recent days as the Big Ten and NCAA weigh details and possible evidence in the case that has dogged Michigan for the past two weeks. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Michigan is not discussing its strategy publicly.
Michigan received formal notification from the Big Ten last Saturday, the Detroit News reported. Michigan, coach Jim Harbaugh and their lawyers have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to respond to the allegations and evidence they have been presented.
The NCAA is investigating Michigan, too, but its process is slower and is likely to stretch well past the season. Big Ten rules allow for swifter action, and coaches and athletic directors in the league have been pushing commissioner Tony Petitti to discipline Michigan under the conference’s bylaws that cover sportsmanship and competitive integrity.