College Football Playoff rankings: Washington takes over playoff position

Washington moved into fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings, putting the four remaining unbeaten teams from the Power Five conference at the top of the selection committee’s second top 25. Alabama, Clemson and Michigan still hold the top three spots.

Washington moved into fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings, putting the four remaining unbeaten teams from the Power Five conferences at the top of the selection committee’s second top 25.

Alabama, Clemson and Michigan still hold the top three spots.

The committee’s first ranking of the season caused a bit of a stir because the unbeaten Huskies were behind Texas A&M last week. The Aggies then went out and lost at Mississippi State to clear up the mini-controversy.

Ohio State is behind Washington at fifth.

“It was a small margin between No. 4 and No. 5,” committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said.

Hocutt, who is the athletic director at Texas Tech, said last week that A&M was ahead of Washington because of the Aggies’ superior schedule strength. That left open the possibility that Ohio State would jump the Huskies for the same reason after the Buckeyes pounded Nebraska on Saturday.

Hocutt said a big difference was A&M’s only loss was to Alabama whereas Ohio State’s one loss was to 10th-ranked Penn State.

“But more than anything it’s the consistency that we’ve seen week in and week out with Washington,” Hocutt said.

The Buckeyes are still in fine shape. Ohio State plays Michigan on Nov. 26 in a game that could decide the Big Ten’s East division.

Louisville moved up a spot to sixth, followed by Wisconsin at seven and Texas A&M at eight and Auburn at nine.