September 22, 2024

USC jumps to 5th behind, UGA, Ohio St, Michigan, TCU in CFP

college football

Matthew Hinton / AP

LSU defensive end Ali Gaye (11) celebrates a sack of UAB quarterback Dylan Hopkins with safety Greg Brooks Jr. (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.

LSU moved up to fifth and Southern California was sixth Tuesday night in the College Football Playoff rankings behind Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and TCU.

The top four remained the same for the third straight week, but the teams chasing changed order after Tennessee lost to South Carolina last Saturday night.

Two huge games this weekend could create more clarity.

Michigan is at Ohio State on Saturday and USC hosts Notre Dame, which checked in at 15th in the selection committee's rankings.

There are two more rankings left. The final ones on Dec. 4 set the field for the College Football Playoff. The semifinals will be played Dec. 31 in the Peach and Fiesta bowls. The national championship game will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Alabama was seventh, though the Crimson Tide don't seem to have a realistic route to make the College Football Playoff for the eight time in nine years. LSU and Georgia are already locked into the Southeastern Conference title game.

Clemson came in at ninth and Tennessee fell to 10th.