STARKVILLE — For the second-consecutive week, the Mississippi State football team is at the top of the heap in the College Football Playoff Committee’s Top 25.
Released Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff Rankings remained the same at the top, as MSU and Florida State, the only two undefeated teams from power five conferences, are ranked No. 1 and No. 2.
MSU, which reached the top of The Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll (USA Today) for the first time in school history four weeks ago, has been the top choice of the College Football Playoff Committee in each of the rankings’ first two weeks. The rankings will be released weekly until the final list is made public Dec. 7. The rankings will determine the four teams that will compete in the first College Football Playoff.
On ESPN following the release of this week’s rankings, committee chairman Jeff Long was asked if Florida State leaping MSU into the top spot was discussed. Long, the athletic director at the University of Arkansas, said “it really wasn’t close” to any chance of them flip-flopping in the top two spots.
“We stayed pretty consistent with the way we looked at 1 and 2 with Mississippi State and Florida State,” Long said. “Auburn was a little bit behind in No. 3, but they were a solid No. 3.”
While there was no movement at the top of the rankings, there was plenty of shuffling behind the Bulldogs and Seminoles. Auburn, which pulled out a 35-31 win against Ole Miss, remained at No. 3, while Oregon slid into the No. 4 spot previously occupied by the Rebels. Ole Miss, which has lost two-straight games after a 7-0 start, fell to No. 11.
Alabama, which will take on LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will play host to MSU next week, checked in at No. 5, one spot away from a coveted top four ranking. Alabama also has a game remaining against Auburn.
TCU, Kansas State, Michigan State, Arizona State, and Notre Dame, teams that all have one loss, rounded out the top 10.
Six Southeastern Conference teams made the cut for the top 25. LSU checked in at No. 16 and Georgia dropped to No. 20.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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