The second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings provided some clarity heading into the final week of the 2015 regular season.
No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 4 Iowa all remained in the top four, while No. 5 Michigan State came up just short for the second straight week.
A win for the Tigers over No. 10 North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship likely would secure a playoff spot, and the same goes for the Crimson Tide in the Southeastern Conference Championship against No. 18 Florida. The Sooners also appear to have a commanding hold on the top four after their win over rival Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Hawkeyes and Spartans will face off in the Big Ten Championship this weekend, with the winner likely taking the final spot.
However, chaos always is possible, and there are plenty of teams just outside the top five waiting to pounce. No. 6 Ohio State, No. 7 Stanford, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Florida State and the Tar Heels round out the top 10.
Houston took over as the top-ranked Group of Five team at No. 19, putting it in line for a New Year’s Six bowl.
Here’s the latest College Football Playoff rankings (last week’s rankings are in parentheses):
1. Clemson (1): 12-0
2. Alabama (2): 11-1
3. Oklahoma (3): 11-1
4. Iowa (4): 12-0
5. Michigan State (5): 11-1
6. Ohio State (8): 11-1
7. Stanford (9): 10-2
8. Notre Dame (6): 10-2
9. Florida State (13): 10-2
10. North Carolina (14): 11-1
11. TCU (19): 10-2
12. Baylor (7): 9-2
13. Ole Miss (18): 9-3
14. Northwestern (16): 10-2
15. Michigan (10): 9-3
16. Oregon (17): 9-3
17. Oklahoma State (11): 10-2
18. Florida (12): 10-2
19. Houston (NR): 11-1
20. USC (NR): 8-4
21. LSU (NR): 8-3
22. Temple (25): 10-2
23. Navy (15): 9-2
24. Utah (23): 9-3
25. Tennessee (NR): 8-4
Thumbnail photo via Joshua S. Kelly/USA TODAY Sports Images
