College Football Playoff rankings: Oregon moves up to No. 6 after win over USC

Oregon moved up one spot in the College Football Playoff rankings after beating USC.

The Ducks went from No. 7 to No. 6 as they swapped spots with Ole Miss. The Rebels were off in Week 13 ahead of their Egg Bowl matchup against Mississippi State.

That was the only movement inside the top 10. Outside the top 10, Miami and Utah swapped spots. The Hurricanes moved up a spot from No. 13 after beating Virginia Tech on the road. Utah needed a last-minute touchdown in a comeback win over Kansas State at home as the Wildcats ran for over 450 yards.

The top five remained Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia and Texas Tech in that order. After Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Alabama rounded out the top 10.

Seven 2-loss teams from No. 8 to No. 15

Michigan moved up three spots with its win over Maryland in Week 13 and is now at No. 15. The Wolverines had been behind USC, which beat Michigan at home earlier in the season. The Trojans, now 8-3, are at No. 17 and a spot behind Texas.

With Michigan in the top 15, there are seven two-loss teams in the eight spots outside the top seven. BYU, at 10-1, is at No. 11. The Cougars host UCF in Week 14 before a potential rematch with No. 5 Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game.

Miami is in the mix of two-loss teams in the top 15 at No. 12, but the Hurricanes need eight games to go their way over the weekend to have a chance to play for the ACC title. The more likely candidates to play for the ACC title are two of No. 18 Virginia, No. 21 SMU and No. 22 Pitt. No. 24 Tulane is the only non-power conference team in the rankings.

With the (likely) ACC champion and the American champion both set to be outside the top 12 in the final rankings, the top 10 teams will get into the field either via a conference championship or an at-large bid.

Once again, Alabama occupies that final at-large spot at No. 10. However, the Tide are in the SEC title game with a win over Auburn on Saturday and could get the SEC's automatic berth with a win in Atlanta the following week.

Assuming the top seven stays the same in some order, how the committee views the group from No. 8 through No. 15 over the next two weekends is pivotal. Teams like No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Notre Dame, (likely) No. 12 Miami, No. 13. Utah, No. 14 Vanderbilt only have one more game remaining before the playoff. No. 15 Michigan, meanwhile would leap ahead of many of those teams with a win over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday and could play for a Big Ten title.

If Michigan loses on Saturday, the Wolverines are out of the playoff conversation. But if they get a fifth-straight win over Ohio State, they could even jump into the top 10.

College Football Playoff rankings

1. Ohio State (11-0)

2. Indiana (11-0)

3. Texas A&M (11-0)

4. Georgia (10-1)

5. Texas Tech (10-1)

6. Oregon (10-1)

7. Ole Miss (10-1)

8. Oklahoma (9-2)

9. Notre Dame (9-2)

10. Alabama (9-2)

11. BYU (10-1)

12. Miami (9-2)

13. Utah (9-2)

14. Vanderbilt (9-2)

15. Michigan (9-2)

16. Texas (8-3)

17. USC (8-3)

18. Virginia (9-2)

19. Tennessee (8-3)

20. Arizona State (8-3)

21. SMU (8-3)

22. Pitt (8-3)

23. Georgia Tech (9-2)

24. Tulane (9-2)

25. Arizona (8-3)