The penultimate rankings of the College Football Playoff were released Tuesday, and with the final poll slated to be announced Sunday, exactly which teams will face off in the inaugural playoff is still very much in a state of flux heading into conference championship weekend.
After climbing the rankings from No. 22 to No. 8, UCLA lost ground for the first time in the poll following its loss to Stanford, dropping down to No. 15.
Texas Christian University was the biggest winner, jumping up from No. 5 to No. 3, while Florida State fell back to No. 4. Alabama and Oregon held on to the top two spots respectively, while Mississippi State fell out of the college playoff quartet to No. 10 after its loss to Ole Miss.
Ohio State, Baylor – which has given TCU its only loss – Arizona, Michigan State and Kansas State rounded out the top ten.
Each team in the top four plays this weekend, with TCU battling Iowa State in its regular season finale, while Alabama battles No. 16 Missouri for the SEC title. Oregon looks to avenge its only loss of the season against No. 7 Arizona in the Pac-12 championship game, and Florida State looks to survive another week against No. 11 Georgia Tech in the ACC title game.
Meanwhile Baylor – which faces off against Kansas State – could move past TCU and into the final four as a win over the Wildcats would give the Bears a Big-12 title and a head-to-head advantage over TCU even if the Horned Frogs defeat the Cyclones Saturday.
The final rankings, which will determine the four teams that play in the College Football Playoff, will be announced Sunday at 9:45 a.m. on ESPN.
Compiled by Jordan Lee, Bruin Sports senior staff.