Washington ascended to the No. 4 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, surpassing Florida State after securing a victory against their third consecutive ranked opponent over the weekend.
While the top three positions held steady, with Georgia at No. 1, Ohio State at No. 2, and Michigan at No. 3, Washington made a significant leap into the top four for the first time this season. Florida State, on the other hand, slid to No. 5 following the loss of quarterback Jordan Travis for the season.
The Huskies claimed a hard-fought 22-20 victory against then-No. 11 Oregon State on Saturday, building on previous wins over then-No. 18 Utah and then-No. 20 USC. Although Utah and USC have dropped from the rankings, Washington now claims the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s strength of record metric, with Florida State ranking at No. 4 in the same metric.
Florida State faced FCS North Alabama in their recent matchup, overcoming an early 13-0 deficit to secure a commanding 58-13 win. However, the victory was overshadowed by the loss of Travis to a lower-leg injury, raising questions about the committee’s assessment of this setback in the coming weeks.
Boo Corrigan, the CFP selection committee chair, emphasized that the committee’s decision this week was primarily influenced by Washington’s performance, stating that the Travis injury had no impact on their decision. The upcoming weeks will provide insight into how the committee views such injuries.
Looking ahead, Florida State faces a crucial matchup against rival Florida, with Tate Rodemaker stepping in as the starting quarterback. The team then gears up for the ACC championship game against No. 10 Louisville on Dec. 2.
Coach Mike Norvell remains focused on the team’s response to adversity and the opportunity to showcase their strengths in upcoming matchups. The rankings, he asserts, are secondary to the team’s commitment to improvement and success.
As the college football landscape evolves, the showdown between rivals Ohio State and Michigan promises more shifts in the rankings. For Florida State, the challenge lies in whether an undefeated season, albeit with Travis sidelined, will be sufficient to secure a spot in the four-team playoff.
The top 10 sees the three one-loss teams behind Florida State maintaining their positions: Oregon at No. 6, Texas at No. 7, and Alabama at No. 8. Notably, Liberty joins the rankings at No. 25, while NC State and Clemson make appearances at No. 22 and No. 24, respectively. Tulane holds the highest rank among Group of 5 teams at No. 23.