Michigan’s first win over rival Ohio State in 10 years gave the Wolverines a clear path to their first appearance in the College Rugby Round.
After beating the Buckeyes 42-27 at the Big House on Saturday, werewolves placed 2nd in the selection committee’s latest rankings, announced Tuesday night. The final standings, which will determine the four teams that will play in the two CFP semi-finals on New Year’s Eve, will be released at noon on Sunday on ESPN.
Undefeated Georgia remained at No. 1 for the fifth consecutive week, followed by Michigan, Alabama, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State.
As long as Michigan beats 13 Iowa in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday, it will be playing in the CFP semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic or the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Georgia hit 12-0 for the first time since their last national championship season in 1980 with a 45-0 win at Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Bulldogs play Alabama in Saturday’s SEC championship game in Atlanta. Georgia could get in the CFP even if it loses to the Crimson Tide because of its dominance this season.
“I don’t see that having anything to do with anything,” said Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart. “I’ve said my whole career that it’s equally hard to win the SEC championship, because in my years in Alabama, you could say that winning the SEC championship is as hard as trying to win the national championship. home, and that’s one of our goals. We wanted to put it on this wall in [the team meeting room]and to do that, you have to win the SEC. That is what we are focusing on. “
The Crimson Tide’s ranking remained unchanged after another win closer to expectations, a 24-22 win in four overtakes at Auburn during the Iron Bowl. Alabama, the defending national champion, won each of the SEC’s last three games by seven points or less.
Cincinnati, the team trying to be the first team from the Group of 5 conference to break the CFP, take on No. 21 Houston at home in Saturday’s AAC championship game on ABC.
The Cowboys, following a 37-33 win over Oklahoma in Bedlam on Saturday, have the highest ranking this season. If Oklahoma State beat Baylor number 9 in Saturday’s Big 12 title match on ABC, it could overtake the undefeated Bearcats, or break into the top 4 if Alabama or Cincinnati lose.
“There’s been a lot of discussion, but it’s hard to say how it fell in third, fourth and fifth place,” selection committee chairman Gary Barta, athletic director at Iowa, said on the show. ESPN’s rankings release.
With just one loss to the Bearcats, Notre Dame finished sixth, followed by Ohio State, Ole Miss, Baylor and Oregon. Fighting Irish, who lost coach Brian Kelly to LSU on Monday, is not competing this weekend and will have to wait and see how things shake up for the other contenders.
“I think this team is really well-positioned,” Notre Dame sporting director Jack Swarbrick said Tuesday. “I believe we are one of the top four teams in the country. The cumulative results of our last four or five games are, I think, fascinating. I think we can play against anyone. in the country right now.”
Barta said coaching scenarios could be included in discussion after next week’s games.
“The committee was clearly aware of all the changes to the coach,” he added. “This week, however, it hasn’t been applied.”
The Buckeyes have dropped five places after losing only to Michigan for the second time in their last 17 meetings. Oklahoma dropped four places to 14th after falling to the Cowboys, and Texas A&M dropped 10 places to 25th after losing 27-24 at the struggling LSU.
Kentucky re-enters the rankings at 23, and Louisiana is ranked at 24 for the first time. UTSA and Wisconsin were previously unbeaten, coming in at 14 a week ago, having dropped out of the table. ratings.
Badgers’ final elimination could hurt the Irish in the long run, as Notre Dame is counting on a September win over Wisconsin to help its final ranking.
