11/14/2017 football Edit

Alabama moves to No. 1 in latest College Football Playoff rankings

Alabama was named the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday (Gary Cosby Jr. | The Tuscaloosa News)

Tyler Waldrep • TideIllustrated

Staff Writer

I covered Alabama athletics for a number of organizations (including this one 2017-18) from 2015-2018. Took a break for two years to cover Florida State, but now I'm back.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — As expected, Alabama ascended to the top spot of the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday night after the previous No. 1 Georgia tumbled down to No. 7 after Auburn handed the Bulldogs a 40-17 defeat.

Alabama (10-0, 7-0 in the SEC) hosts FCS opponent Mercer (5-5) this weekend. The unbeaten Miami Hurricanes jumped up four spots to No. 3 after defeating previous No. 3 Notre Dame 41-8 on Saturday. Despite a loss earlier this season, the Clemson Tigers remained ahead of the Hurricanes at No. 2. The Oklahoma Sooners moved up one spot to enter the bracket at No. 4.

If the season ended today, Alabama would face Oklahoma in one semifinal while Clemson would face Miami in the other however these two teams are guaranteed to meet on the field for the ACC Championship game. Wisconsin and Auburn just missed the bracket at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State round out the top 10 in order.

In total, the Southeastern conference saw three teams ranked inside the top 10 for a total of five ranked teams. The LSU Tigers moved up four spots to No. 20 after a win over Arkansas while Mississippi State remained No. 16 after the close loss to Alabama.

Despite Georgia’s loss this weekend, the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2 still figures to be an unofficial play-in game for the two teams that make it to Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia has already secured one spot and Alabama and Auburn will play for the right to represent the SEC West on Nov. 25 in the annual Iron Bowl matchup.

College Football Playoff Top 25

1. Alabama 10-0

2. Clemson 9-1

3. Miami 10-0

4. Oklahoma 9-1

5. Wisconsin 10-0

6. Auburn 8-2

7. Georgia 9-1

8. Notre Dame 8-2

9. Ohio State 8-2

10. Penn State 8-2

11. Southern California 9-2

12. TCU 8-2

13. Oklahoma State 8-2

14. Washington State 9-2

15. UCF 9-0

16. Mississippi State 7-3

17. Michigan State 7-3

18. Washington 8-2

19. NC State 7-3

20. LSU 7-3

21. Memphis 8-1

22. Stanford 7-3

23. Northwestern 7-3

24. Michigan 8-2

25. Boise State 8-2

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