College Football Playoff Rankings: Notre Dame Enters Top Five, Alabama Holds Steady
The latest College Football Playoff rankings have been released, and there has been a major shakeup at the top. Notre Dame has surged into the top five, while Alabama has held onto its spot at No. 1 despite a close call against LSU.
Notre Dame is now ranked No. 4, the highest ranking for the Fighting Irish since 2012. The Irish have won their last six games, including a 45-14 victory over Clemson in their most recent outing.
Alabama remains atop the rankings despite a 20-14 win over LSU in their last game. The Crimson Tide have now won 19 consecutive games, dating back to the start of last season.
In addition to Notre Dame’s rise, there have been other notable changes in the rankings. Ohio State has moved up to No. 2 after a 56-21 win over Michigan State. Clemson has dropped to No. 3 after their loss to Notre Dame, and Georgia has fallen to No. 5 after a loss to Auburn.
The new rankings have significant implications for the College Football Playoff. Alabama, Ohio State, and Notre Dame are now the clear favorites to make the playoff, while Clemson and Georgia will need to win out and hope for some help to have a chance.
“Notre Dame’s rise to the top five is a testament to their impressive season,” said ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. “They have played a tough schedule and have won every game convincingly.”
“Alabama is still the team to beat, but I think Notre Dame has a legitimate chance to challenge them for a spot in the national championship game,” Herbstreit added.
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be released on December 4. The top four teams will earn a berth in the playoff semifinals, which will be played on December 31 and January 1. The national championship game will be played on January 9.
