College Football Polls

Alabama is the reigning national champion and destroyed previously undefeated Georgia in stunning fashion in Saturday's SEC Championship Game to clinch its spot in the College Football Playoff, and somehow that wasn't even the biggest storyline heading into Sunday's reveal of the four-team field.

After all, Cincinnati made history.

The Bearcats became the first Group of Five conference team to make the CFP when the field was announced Sunday. They will be joined by Alabama, Georgia and Michigan in the chase for college football's ultimate prize:

1. Alabama

2. Michigan

3. Georgia

4. Cincinnati

5. Notre Dame

6. Ohio State

That means the Crimson Tide will face the Bearcats in one semifinal showdown at the Cotton Bowl, while the Wolverines will play the Bulldogs in the other at the Orange Bowl, both on New Year's Eve.

Did committee avoid UGA-Bama rematch or avoid an all-SEC championship?

Barta: "The answer is no."

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 5, 2021

Gary Barta says there was "strong consensus" in Cincinnati at No. 4.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 5, 2021

Saban on Cincinnati: We think they belong in the Playoff. They beat some really good team. Been very consistent all year long. We have the proper respect (for them).

— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) December 5, 2021

The rest of the Top 25 was announced later in the day Sunday:

7. Baylor

8. Ole Miss

9. Oklahoma State

10. Michigan State

11. Utah

12. Pittsburgh

13. BYU

14. Oregon

15. Iowa

16. Oklahoma

17. Wake Forest

18. North Carolina State

19. Clemson

20. Houston

21. Arkansas

22. Kentucky

23. Lousiana

24. San Diego State

25. Texas A&M

Whether Cincinnati would complete its quest for the CFP was one of the season's biggest storylines as soon as it stunned Notre Dame in a 24-13 victory on Oct. 2.

It didn't hurt the Bearcats' cause that the Fighting Irish won the rest of their games while playing their way back into the playoff discussion. While the Irish fell short, their bounce-back efforts ensured Cincinnati would have one of the season's most impressive wins.

Head coach Luke Fickell's team also needed plenty of chaos around it.

The ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 didn't feature a single team with fewer than two losses. That meant typical powerhouses such as Clemson and Oklahoma were afterthoughts in the playoff race.

Oregon remained in the picture longer than the Tigers and Sooners thanks to its September win at Ohio State, but the Ducks' two losses to Utah down the stretch eliminated the Pac-12 as well.

With three of the five Power Five leagues out of the chase, Cincinnati had room to make the field even with the SEC taking half the spots. That became a reality Saturday when Alabama, which looked far more vulnerable than it usually does a number of times this year, beat the previously undisputed No. 1 Bulldogs in convincing fashion.

Perhaps a season that has been anything but typical will end in the familiar scene of Nick Saban holding up the national championship trophy, but the Crimson Tide may have to defeat Georgia again.

And then there is Michigan, which is a traditional powerhouse but had fallen off in recent years thanks largely to the dominance of the rival Buckeyes.

Michigan is the first team to reach the CFP after being unranked in the preseason AP poll.

— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) December 5, 2021

This year was different, though, as the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the first time in a decade and then parlayed the momentum they created from that into a 42-3 blowout of Iowa in Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game.

That contest put the finishing touches on a four-team field that is largely without controversy and features the reigning champions, a challenger from their own conference, a traditional powerhouse that has rediscovered its winning ways and the ultimate underdog. 

The national title game is set for January 10 in Indianapolis. 

The identity of the top four teams in the Coaches Poll did not change after conference championship week. Their order, however, very much did.

Alabama moved up to being the No. 1 team in the nation after capturing the SEC championship, followed by Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati. Notre Dame rounds out the Top Five.

Here is a look at how the entire Top 25 played out.

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Georgia
4. Cincinnati
5. Notre Dame
6. Baylor
7. Ohio State
8. Ole Miss
9. Oklahoma State
10. Michigan State
11. Utah
12. Pitt
13. Oklahoma
14. BYU
15. Oregon
16. Iowa
17. UL Lafayette
18. NC State
19. Wake Forest
20. Kentucky
21. Houston
22. Clemson
23. Texas A&M
24. Arkansas
25. Texas-San Antonio

Alabama staked its claim to a playoff spot with a dominant 41-24 triumph over Georgia. Bryce Young threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns, all but cementing his place as the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. The Tide will enter the postseason down an important playmaker after John Metchie III suffered what's believed to be a torn ACL, but Jameson Williams more than filled the void with 184 yards and two touchdowns Saturday.

"The resiliency they've shown all year makes this so special," Alabama coach Nick Saban told reporters. "Winning the game as we did last week, playing a game today to a level that most people probably didn't expect, I'm really proud of this bunch. They've shown tremendous ability to overcome adversity all year long."

Michigan was likewise dominant in its 42-3 win over Iowa. The Wolverines rushed for 211 yards and held the Hawkeyes to 279 yards total.

"We defied all expectations," Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson told reporters. "Nobody ever thought we could do this, especially this season and we did it — in dominant fashion."

Cincinnati completed the only undefeated regular season in the FBS with a 35-20 win over Houston. The Bearcats are set to become the first Group of Five team to join the College Football Playoff.

"The resounding statement is what we did on that football field," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said of potentially not making the playoff. "Nobody is going to call and ask us what we think. I don't think these guys can be denied that opportunity. It would be a shame."

While attention has turned to the College Football Playoff committee's rankings after the completion of the regular season and conference title games, the Associated Press also released its final poll before the bowls on Sunday.

Here is a look at the latest AP Poll:

1. Alabama

2. Michigan

3. Georgia

4. Cincinnati

5. Notre Dame

6. Baylor

7. Ohio State

8. Ole Miss

9. Oklahoma State

10. Utah

11. Michigan State

12. BYU

13. Pittsburgh

14. Oklahoma

15. Oregon

16. Louisiana-Lafayette

17. Iowa 

18. North Carolina State

19. Clemson

20. Wake Forest

21. Houston 

22. Arkansas

23. Texas A&M

24. UTSA

25. Kentucky

While there was plenty of consternation about where teams would be ranked throughout the season, the race to a four-team playoff field largely worked itself out.

Baylor's thrilling victory over Oklahoma State in Saturday's Big 12 title game meant the league didn't have a single team finish with fewer than two losses.

The same can be said for the ACC and Pac-12, which opened the door for the SEC to send multiple teams and undefeated Cincinnati to make history as the first Group of Five team to make the CFP. The Bearcats put an exclamation point on their 13-0 campaign with a 35-20 victory over Houston in Saturday's American Athletic Conference title matchup. That, along with Baylor's win over Oklahoma State meant Cincinnati didn't have to sweat the SEC showdown between Georgia and Alabama.

It turns out that was an extremely fortunate development for Luke Fickell's squad.

Alabama handled previously undefeated Georgia with relative ease in a 41-24 victory that served as a reminder that the Crimson Tide should never be doubted, even though they looked vulnerable by their elevated standards a number of times this season.

That all but ensured there would be two SEC entrants in the four-team field, and with Michigan grabbing one of the spots thanks to its Big Ten Championship Game victory over Iowa, it could have created a legitimate debate between Cincinnati and a one-loss Oklahoma State squad for the final spot in the field had the Cowboys not lost to Baylor.

Perhaps no team heads into the postseason with as much momentum as the Wolverines, who finished their regular season with their first win over archrival Ohio State in a decade and then crushed Iowa by 39 points in the conference title game.

Whether Jim Harbaugh's team will be able to maintain that momentum in a playoff field featuring two teams from the SEC remains to be seen, but he removed plenty of questions about his tenure as his alma mater's head coach by finally beating Ohio State and putting the team in position to reach the CFP.           

There's a new Big Ten team playing its way into College Football Playoff contention.

Michigan, fresh off its resounding defeat of Ohio State, moved up to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press poll. Georgia remains the nation's top-ranked team ahead of next Saturday's SEC Championship Game matchup with Alabama, which needed four overtimes to get past rival Auburn.

Here is a look at how the entire Top 25 played out:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Cincinnati
4. Alabama
5. Oklahoma State
6. Notre Dame
7. Ohio State
8. Ole Miss
9. Baylor
10. Oregon
11. Michigan State
12. BYU
13. Oklahoma
14. Utah
15. Iowa
16. Houston
17. Pitt
18. Wake Forest
19. San Diego State
20. Louisiana-Lafayette
21. NC State
22. Clemson
23. Arkansas
24. Texas A&M
25. Kentucky

Hassan Haskins rushed for 169 yards and five touchdowns as Michigan saw almost no resistance from the Ohio State front seven in a 42-27 victory. The win was the Wolverines' first against their longtime rival since 2011 and the first under head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

“Feels like the best one, it sure does! It really does," Harbaugh said of the victory. "Get ready for next week’s. Maybe next week’s will be the best. That’s why it feels like the beginning.

"Continue, we’ll continue to do what we do. We’ll move on with humble hearts and greatness doesn’t fear consequences. Fearless, but not careless. Onward. That’s how it feels.”

Michigan plays Iowa in Saturday's Big Ten championship game and will almost certainly earn its first playoff berth with a win.

Alabama and Georgia will go head-to-head the same day, with Nick Saban's team needing a victory to clinch a playoff spot. Undefeated Georgia will likely be in the playoffs regardless of the outcome.

Alabama is coming off one of its worst performances of the season, as its offense struggled before squeaking away with a 24-22 win over rival Auburn. The Tide did not score their first touchdown until Bryce Young hit Ja'Corey Brooks from 28 yards out with 24 seconds remaining in regulation that helped tie the score at 10. 

“I think they name some of these games in this series, the Iron Bowl, because there have been some great games, some great comebacks, Saban told reporters. "I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way our players kept competing in the game. Over and over and over, we came up with plays when we needed to come up with plays."

Oklahoma State is also making its shot at the playoffs, getting past rival Oklahoma with a 13-point fourth quarter. The 11-1 Cowboys will play 10-2 Baylor in the Big 12 title game to give themselves a shot at sneaking into the playoffs. 

Michigan moved up to No. 3 in the Week 14 Coaches Poll after Saturday's dramatic win over Ohio State.

Georgia remains No. 1 in the Top 25 after closing out a perfect 12-0 regular season, although there was plenty of movement as teams try to clinch spots in the College Football Playoff.

Here is the latest poll heading into next week's conference title games.

---

Coaches Poll

1. Georgia

2. Alabama

3. Michigan

4. Cincinnati

5. Oklahoma State

6. Notre Dame

7. Ohio State

8. Mississippi 

9. Baylor

10. Oregon

11. Oklahoma

12. Iowa

13. Michigan State

14. BYU

15. Pittsburgh

16. Houston

17. Utah

18. Wake Forest

19. San Diego State

20. North Carolina State

21. Louisiana Lafayette

22. Kentucky

23. Texas A&M

24. Clemson

25. Arkansas

---

Michigan finally got its first win against rival Ohio State since 2011, but it came at a big time as the Wolverines now have a chance to win a Big Ten title and possibly more.

The Buckeyes had been dominant in recent months, including a 56-7 win over Michigan State a week earlier, but it was the Wolverines who flexed their muscle on their way to a 42-27 victory.

Hassan Haskins was unstoppable on the ground, totaling 169 rushing yards and five touchdowns to go with some eye-popping plays:

Haskins with the hurdle 😳

(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/2CYlGT7jdY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 27, 2021

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson also played a significant role getting to Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

"These guys have been disrespecting us, stepping on our jerseys, talking about hanging 100 on us, doing all the rah, rah," Hutchinson told reporters after the game. "But we were about it today."

The performance helped Michigan climb from No. 6 to No. 3 in the latest poll, while Ohio State dropped from second to seventh.

Alabama also nearly took a significant tumble in the poll, but it sits at No. 2 after surviving a four-overtime battle against Auburn.

The Crimson Tide had zero points heading into the fourth quarter and trailed 10-3 in the closing minutes until Bryce Young led a game-tying touchdown drive:

BRYCE YOUNG TIES IT FOR ALABAMA. WHAT A CATCH. ⁰⁰(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/hwAuhKSrPA

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 28, 2021

The game eventually came down to a battle of two-point conversions starting in the third overtime, and Alabama did enough to earn the 24-22 win.

Oklahoma State moved to No. 5 after a 37-33 win over rival Oklahoma, which dropped to No. 11 in the latest poll.

There were a combined five turnovers in the game, but the Cowboys came out on top thanks to two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Cincinnati and Notre Dame remain high in the poll after taking care of business, while Texas A&M fell nine spots after a disappointing loss to LSU. Wisconsin, which was ranked No. 18 in last week's poll, fell out entirely after its 23-13 road loss against Minnesota.

The top teams will still have one more chance to prove themselves in conference title games, notably Georgia taking on Alabama while Michigan faces Iowa.