Oklahoma edges Ohio State for No. 5 in playoff rankings
Oklahoma was No. 5 in the pivotal second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, ahead of Ohio State heading into championship weekend when the final four will be set.
The biggest question facing the selection committee this week was how much to value Ohio State’s 6239 blowout of Michigan on Saturday. The answer: The Buckeyes moved up four spots but were still stuck behind the Sooners.
“I really don’t have a measurement for closeness,” selection committee chairman Rob Mullens said when asked about how much Ohio State and Oklahoma were separated.
Mullens cited Oklahoma’s historic offense. The Sooners are on pace to set an FBS record for yards per play, averaging 8.92.
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. Maybe the loser, too.
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.
Ohio State faces Northwestern (8-4) in the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis and Oklahoma rematches Texas (9-3) in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas. The Longhorns handed the Sooners their only regularseason loss in October. Ohio Georgia players, from left, Jonathan Ledbetter, J.R. Reed, D’Andre Walker and Deandre Baker and their teammates are ranked No. 4in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. State’s lone loss was by 29 points at Purdue. STANFORD FLIPS CAL COMMIT >> The list of Bay Area football recruits staying home to play at Stanford continues to grow.
Livermore tight end Bradley Archer, who initially committed to Cal in April, announced via Twitter his intention to sign with the Cardinal. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound three-star recruit is ranked No. 76 in the state by 247Sports and joins a class that already includes a couple of other East Bay standouts in Bishop O’Dowd running back Austin Jones and San Ramon Valley outside linebacker Tristan Sinclair, as well as defensive
end Joshua Pakola out of St. Francis-Mountain View. USC FIRES OC MARTIN >> Offensive coordinator Tee Martin is one of three USC assistants who are not being retained by coach Clay Helton following the Trojans’ first losing season in 18 years.
The school on Tuesday announced the departures of Martin, defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze and Ronnie Bradford (defensive backs). USC also said quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis has left the staff to pursue another opportunity. In October, offensive line coach Neil Callaway was fired.
Helton took away playcalling responsibility from Martin during the season. The Trojans were 83rd in the FBS in total offense, 91st in scoring and 108th in rushing. The Trojans will not be going to a bowl game in a non-probation season for the first time since 2000. NORTHWESTERN’S FITZGERALD HONORED BY BIG TEN >> Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald is the unanimous choice for Big Ten coach of the year.
The conference announced half its postseason awards based on voting by coaches and media. Fitzgerald led the Wildcats (8-4) to the West Division title after going winless in nonconference play and losing several starters to injuries.
Michigan’s Devin Bush is defensive player of the year and top linebacker. Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes was voted top defensive lineman and Iowa’s Amani Hooker top defensive back. UCF QUARTERBACK RECOVERING >> The family of Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton says he has nerve damage in his right leg, but “blood flow has been restored” and he is recovering from the injury suffered during UCF’s last game. Milton was carted off the field during the first half of the Knights’ victory at rival South Florida on Friday after getting injured while being tackled. The family says the nerve in Milton’s leg was “injured but intact.” He will have surgery at an undetermined date.