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SALT LAKE CITY — The College Football Playoff rankings were shaken up after three of the top four teams lost last weekend. As a result, Utah has once again moved up in the rankings following their 49-23 win over Arizona State Thursday.
The College Football Playoff committee moved Utah up to No. 12, which is three spots higher than last week’s spot at No. 15. On Sunday, Utah moved up to No. 11 in the Associated Press and USA Today Amway Coaches Poll.
Washington remains the leading team for the Pac-12, falling from No. 4 to No. 6 in the latest rankings. As it stands, the Huskies have an outside shot at making the College Football Playoffs, but remains the most likely team from the Pac-12 to get into the playoffs.
The committee only dropped Washington two spots in the rankings because it was "impressed with the quality of wins at Utah, another quality win against a 7-3 Stanford team, and their only loss is to a good Southern California team," according to committee chair Kirby Hocutt.
"I would say the strength of schedule for Washington is not as strong as those teams that are currently ranked above them, but the committee did think that Washington is deserving of that 6 spot ahead of No. 7 Wisconsin."
Hocutt added that the selection committee wouldn't "want to play that Southern California team right now" if they were coaching.
Joining Washington and Utah from the Pac-12 in the rankings is Colorado at No. 10, USC at No. 13, Washington State at No. 22, and Stanford at No. 24. After a rocky season, Stanford is now ranked for the first time this season in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Washington State continues to be near the bottom of the rankings despite a 7-0 conference record. The committee, however, said the Washington State loss to Eastern Washington at the beginning of the season was a black mark to their success.
"Obviously we're aware of the successful season that that particular program is having, but it is a loss to an FCS team," Hocutt said. "But it is noted within our discussions that that is a good FCS team this season."
Alabama remains No. 1 overall and the only undefeated team left in the Power Five conferences. Behind the Crimson Tide is Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson. Coming in at the two next with an outside shot at the playoffs is Louisville at No. 5 and Washington at No. 6. The Pac-12 and SEC lead with six teams in the rankings, followed by the Big Ten at four, and the ACC and Big 12 at three. The MAC and Mountain West each have one team in the rankings.
The College Football Playoff rankings will continue for two more weeks and will be released each Tuesday. The final rankings of the season will be released on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. on ESPN.
The two semifinal bowl locations this season are the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. The National Championship game will be played in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 9, 2017.
Second Rankings: Complete #CFBPlayoff Top 25 pic.twitter.com/fADEfQ1nXz
— CFBPlayoff (@CFBPlayoff) November 9, 2016
