The Georgia Bulldogs climbed to No. 4 in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s next-to-last rankings of the season, released Tuesday night.
Georgia moved up one spot after Michigan, previously the No. 4 team, lost to Ohio State.
The top three teams, all undefeated, are unchanged: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame.
Now the question for Georgia is whether it will remain in the all-important top four when it counts on Sunday afternoon. That’s when the selection committee will unveil its final rankings of the season, with the top four teams at that point earning berths in the playoff.
The final rankings will be heavily influenced by Saturday’s conference championship games around the country, including a top-four matchup of Alabama vs. Georgia in the SEC title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Georgia (11-1) is now the highest-ranked one-loss team, but two other one-loss teams from power conferences – Oklahoma and Ohio State – are in striking distance of the top four at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively. Ohio State jumped four spots after its 62-39 win over Michigan.
Oklahoma will play No. 14 Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, while Ohio State will face No. 21 Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game, both on Saturday.
Michigan fell to No. 7 in Tuesday’s rankings in the aftermath of the loss at Ohio State.
Rounding out the top 10 are undefeated Central Florida at No. 8 and two SEC teams -- Florida and LSU -- at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively. LSU fell three spots after its seven-overtime 74-72 loss to Texas A&M, which is now No. 19.
Sunday’s final rankings will set the playoff bracket. The No. 1 team will face No. 4 and No. 2 will face No. 3 in the semifinals, which will be played in the Orange and Cotton bowls on Dec. 29.
The national championship game will be played Jan. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.
CFP RANKINGS
1. Alabama (12-0)
2. Clemson (12-0)
3. Notre Dame (12-0)
4. Georgia (11-1)
5. Oklahoma (11-1)
6. Ohio State (11-1)
7. Michigan (10-2)
8. Central Florida (11-0)
9. Florida (9-3)
10. LSU (9-3)
11. Washington (9-3)
12. Penn State (9-3)
13. Washington State (10-2)
14. Texas (9-3)
15. Kentucky (9-3)
16. West Virginia (8-3)
17. Utah (9-3)
18. Mississippi State (8-4)
19. Texas A&M (8-4)
20. Syracuse (9-3)
21. Northwestern (8-4)
22. Boise State (10-2)
23. Iowa State (7-4)
24. Missouri (8-4)
25. Fresno State (10-2)
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