Despite speculation by some that Michigan would jump Georgia for the top spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings, there apparently was never much chance of that happening.
According to CFP committee chairman Boo Corrigan, Georgia's body of work was simply too much for the Wolverines to overcome.
"There's a lot of conversation specifically about that, the Georgia-Michigan (position) and Michigan's big win on Saturday. But Georgia did nothing against Georgia Tech for people to look at that game in a way that it was a watershed moment, if you will, " Corrigan said. "Georgia over the entire season, the win over Oregon, the win over Tennessee, the win over South Carolina and Mississippi State gives them four wins over teams ranked in the top 25. Michigan, even with that win, has a win over Ohio State as well as a win over Penn State. That's two great wins, but with the four wins versus the two wins, talking over the whole body of work, we ended up with Georgia No. 1 and Michigan No. 2."
TCU remained No. 3 with USC moving up to No. 4 after LSU's loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers (9-3) dropped to No. 14.
After that is where it got interesting. Despite its loss to Michigan, Ohio State only fell to No. 5 and is in a position to slip back into the CFP playoffs should Southern Cal fall to Utah in the Pac-12 Championships.
Alabama is No. 6, followed by Tennessee at No. 7.
TCU, which plays Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship may already have a spot in the playoffs locked up.
"As we looked at TCU, we have them as the No. 3 team in the country, 12-0, 6-0 against teams .500 or better, some real quality wins that they have, and they continue to win games," Corrigan said. "They continue to find ways to win games. Their defense has gotten stronger and stronger, and really where we are this week, where do we have them this week, and we have them clearly at No. 3 this week."
Corrigan was asked what separated the Buckeyes from the Crimson Tide, other than the fact Alabama (10-2) has one more loss.
Like Georgia and Michigan, the decision to rank Ohio State ahead was apparently an easy choice.
"We try to evaluate every team on an individual basis as we go through this, and as we looked at it. Ohio State and its two good wins over Penn State and over Notre Dame overshadowed Alabama and Tennessee from the standpoint of two close losses for Alabama, and a couple of good wins over Texas and Mississippi State. With regard to Tennessee, I think that loss against South Carolina really weighed on the committee. "
