6:47 PM
The first victory over Ohio State in 10 years has given the Michigan football team a clear path to the College Football Playoff.
The selection committee's latest rankings were released on Tuesday night, and the UM are second. The final rankings, which will determine which four teams will play in the two semifinals on New Year's Eve, will be released on Sunday.
Georgia remained the top ranked team for the fifth week in a row.
If Michigan beats Iowa in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, it will play in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Georgia went 12-0 for the first time in 30 years with a win at Georgia Tech on Saturday. The SEC championship game is in Atlanta. Even if Georgia loses to the Tide, it will still get into the CFP.
Kirby Smart said that he didn't see how that had anything to do with anything. It's one of our goals to win the SEC championship, because it's just as hard as trying to win a national championship, and it's something I've said all my career. To put it on the wall, you have to win the SEC. We're focused on that.
The Tide's ranking remained the same after they won the Iron Bowl in four overtimes, 24-22. Alabama won its final three SEC games by seven points or less.
Cincinnati, which is trying to become the first team from a Group of 5 conference to crash the CFP, plays Houston in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday.
The Cowboys have their highest ranking of the season after their Bedlam win. If Oklahoma State defeats No. 9 Baylor in the Big 12 title game on ABC, it could leapfrog the other teams and move into the top four.
Gary Barta, the athletic director at Iowa, said on the rankings show that it was hard to say how it fell.
Notre Dame has one loss to the Bearcats and is in the top six. The Fighting Irish won't play this weekend because of Brian Kelly's departure to LSU.
"I think this team is well-equipped," Jack Swarbrick said Tuesday. We are one of the top four teams in the country. The results of our last four or five games are compelling. I think we can play with anyone in the country.
Barta said on the show that coaching situations can factor into the discussion after next week's games.
The committee was aware of all the coaching changes. It didn't apply this week.
After losing to Michigan for the second time in 17 meetings, the Buckeyes fell five spots. Texas A&M and Oklahoma fell out of the top 25 after losses.
Louisiana is ranked for the first time this season at 24th. UTSA and Wisconsin were out of the rankings.
Notre Dame is counting on its September win over Wisconsin to help its final rank, and the Badgers being out could hurt the Irish in the long run.
