The College Football Playoff selection committee did not penalize Ole Miss after Lane Kiffin’s surprise departure to LSU, instead moving the Rebels up one spot to No. 6 in Tuesday’s penultimate rankings following their 38-19 Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State.
School officials had feared the committee might dock the program for the coaching upheaval, which could have affected Ole Miss’ ability to host a first-round CFP game. Athletic director Keith Carter said the team remains focused and that staff and players are prepared for the postseason.
The top five remained the same: unbeaten Ohio State at No. 1, Indiana at No. 2, followed by Georgia at No. 3, Texas Tech at No. 4 and Oregon at No. 5. Georgia, Texas Tech and Oregon each moved up a spot after previously unbeaten Texas A&M fell 27-17 at Texas last week.
Texas A&M tumbled four spots to No. 7, landing just behind Ole Miss. Oklahoma, Alabama and Notre Dame round out the top 10, with BYU at No. 11 and Miami at No. 12.
Committee chair Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas’ athletic director, said the discussion over Alabama and Notre Dame was among the most vigorous he’s seen, noting both teams’ road performances factored heavily into deliberations.
Under the current standings, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia and Texas Tech would receive first-round byes. Projected first-round matchups are Tulane at Oregon; Virginia at Ole Miss; Notre Dame at Texas A&M; and Alabama at Oklahoma. If a 12-team bracket were used today, BYU and Miami would be out: No. 17 Virginia would slot in as the projected ACC champion and No. 20 Tulane would take the highest-ranked Group of Five champion spot.
The committee will issue its final rankings Sunday after evaluating conference championship results, Yurachek said.
Ole Miss’ treatment by the committee was a major storyline. The Rebels finished the regular season 11-1 — the most wins in a single season in program history — with their only loss on Oct. 18 at Georgia and a five-game winning streak to close out the slate. Carter urged that the team be judged on its on-field accomplishments.
Kiffin left Ole Miss before completing his sixth season, accepting a seven-year contract at LSU and taking several assistants with him. LSU announced that Charlie Weis Jr., who called plays for Ole Miss this year and who is now LSU’s offensive coordinator, would be allowed to return to coach the Rebels during the CFP. Kiffin said he notified the committee of that arrangement and hoped it would help Ole Miss’ standing.
Elsewhere in the poll, Texas moved up three spots to No. 13 after upsetting Texas A&M, followed by Vanderbilt and Utah. USC is No. 16, with Virginia, Arizona, Michigan and Tulane completing the top 20. Houston, Georgia Tech, Iowa, North Texas and James Madison occupy Nos. 21-25. Houston, Iowa, North Texas and James Madison are new to this week’s Top 25, while Tennessee, Arizona State, SMU and Pittsburgh fell out after recent losses.
With Tulane and North Texas both ranked from the American Athletic Conference and James Madison in from the Sun Belt, there is a pathway for two Group of Five champions to earn spots in a 12-team playoff for the first time. That scenario would require Duke — which has five losses — to upset Virginia in the ACC title game. North Texas faces Tulane in the American title game Friday, and Troy visits James Madison in the Sun Belt championship the same day.
Miami is the highest-ranked ACC team but did not qualify for the conference title game. Notre Dame, despite losing 27-24 at Miami on Aug. 31, remains two spots ahead of the Hurricanes even though both squads finished 10-2. Yurachek reminded viewers that idle teams can move in the final rankings after championship results are in.
