Clemson takes over top spot
Auburn, Wisconsin enter top 4; ’Bama tumbles to No. 5
After another chaotic weekend, two new teams took over the top spots in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night.
Clemson (11-1) grabbed the No. 1 spot for the first time since the release of the final playoff rankings in 2015. The Tigers benefited from previous No. 1 Alabama’s loss to Auburn in Saturday’s Iron Bowl.
The defending national champions will play in the ACC title game Saturday against No. 7 Miami (10-1), which suffered its first loss of the season against unranked Pittsburgh on Friday. The Hurricanes dropped five spots.
Auburn (10-2) pushed its way into the playoff discussion and took the No. 2 spot by knocking off Alabama. It was the second time the Tigers defeated the No. 1 team in the rankings this season, previously defeating then-No. 1 Georgia on Nov. 11. The No. 6 Bulldogs can get revenge Saturday in a rematch with Auburn in the SEC title game. The winner is expected to earn a playoff spot.
Oklahoma (11-1) moved up a spot to No. 3, with the Sooners continuing their march toward a third consecutive Big 12 title. They will be challenged by No. 11 TCU (10-2) on Saturday in the conference’s first championship game in more than a decade.
Wisconsin (12-0), one of just two undefeated teams left in the country, broke into the top four for the first time this season at No. 4.
No. 5 Alabama (11-1) is out of the top four for the first time since Nov. 11, 2014.
The Crimson Tide join Ohio State (10-2) on the wrong side of the playoff cut line. The Buckeyes, who moved up to No. 8 this week, will take on Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game Saturday and could get a long look with a victory.
UCF (11-0) continues to be hindered by its relatively weak strength of schedule. The Knights moved up one spot to No. 14, sitting behind No. 13 Washington (10-2) and No. 12 Stanford (9-3), among others. The Knights will host No. 20 Memphis (10-1) in the American Athletic Conference championship game Saturday. The winner is expected to be the highestranked Group of Five champion and earn a spot in the Peach Bowl.