USC passes Ohio State in latest CFP rankings

Ohio State was No. 5 Tuesday night in the second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings, positioned to possibly take advantage if one of the top four loses on championship weekend.

Georgia (12-0) was No. 1 again. No. 2 Michigan (12-0) and No. 3 TCU (12-0) both moved up a spot and USC (11-1) climbed two spots into the fourth slot. The Buckeyes (11-1) dropped three spots after losing 45-23 to the rival Wolverines on Saturday in Columbus.

Alabama (10-2) moved up a spot to No. 6 and was followed by SEC rival Tennessee, which beat the Crimson Tide in October.

The top four play in their conference championships game this weekend. The undefeated teams might not need to win this weekend to lock up a spot.

USC and Heisman Trophy frontrunner Caleb Williams face Utah, No. 11 in the rankings, on Friday night in Las Vegas for the Pac-12 championship. If the Trojans falter, that could give Ohio State a second chance.

Georgia plays LSU (9-3) in the SEC title game. Michigan plays Purdue (8-4) for the Big Ten championship. TCU faces Kansas State, which is 10th in the latest rankings and already has lost to the surprising Horned Frogs.

• Georgia Tech reportedly is finalizing a deal to promote Brent Key to head coach after he led the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 record after Geoff Collins was fired in September.