College Football Playoff Rankings reactions: How No. 6 Ohio State still has path into four-team field

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Ohio State’s late bid to upset No. 2 Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor came to a screeching halt when Wolverines defensive back Rod Moore picked off Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord on the Michigan 22-yard line with 25 seconds to play to ice away the 30-24 win. In theory, the Buckeyes’ bid for the College Football Playoff was put on ice as well. Or was it?

Ohio State found itself ranked No. 6 in the updated College Football Playoff Rankings released on Tuesday night, ahead of No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Alabama. The Longhorns and Crimson Tide both play conference championship games this weekend, while the one-loss Buckeyes are already in the clubhouse with the best loss among the realistic CFP contenders. 

There is still a path for the Buckeyes to make the CFP, and it doesn’t even include total chaos. They just need a very specific set of dominoes to fall. 

First thing’s first. No. 4 Florida State has to lose to No. 14 Louisville in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday. A one-loss Florida State without a conference championship and an injured quarterback would have no chance of being ranked ahead of the Buckeyes. The Seminoles are only 2.5-point favorites over the Cardinals, so the chances of this domino falling are high compared to the others. 

No. 3 Washington has to take care of No. 5 Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday. A Ducks team that has two losses, both to the undefeated Huskies, will not be ranked above Ohio State. Oddsmakers don’t feel as confident in this one, however; Oregon is a 9.5-point favorite over Washington despite the head-to-head result from earlier this season. 

No. 7 Texas needs to get out of the way as well, and No. 18 Oklahoma State would be happy to oblige in the Big 12 Championship Game in what…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-reactions-how-no-6-ohio-state-still-has-path-into-four-team-field/

Author : Barrett Sallee

Publish date : 2023-11-29 00:51:33

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