Pitt checks in at No. 22 in latest College Football Playoff rankings; top 5 unchanged

After an impressive ranked upset on the road of Georgia Tech, Pitt, checked in at No. 22 in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings.

The Panthers (8-3, 6-1 ACC) are ranked No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.

Georgia Tech, after falling 42-28 on Saturday to the then-unranked Panthers, dropped from No. 16 to No. 23.

Miami (9-2, 5-2), Pitt’s upcoming regular-season finale foe Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, was ranked 12th.

CFP

The Panthers were initially ranked No. 24 by the CFP Selection Committe in Week 11 before jumping to No. 22 for Week 13. But after a 37-15 defeat to No. 9 Notre Dame Nov. 15, they dropped out.

Saturday’s contest between the Panthers and Hurricanes is highly consequential, as both teams need to win to stay alive for the ACC title game.

Pitt would also need a loss by either Virginia or SMU, while Miami needs the Cavaliers to lose as well as a loss by either Duke or UNC.

As the ACC’s highest-ranked team in the CFP field, Miami could face exclusion from the playoff in the event of a loss to Pitt Saturday.

Pitt and Miami kickoff at noon Saturday on ABC.

The rest of the CFP rankings were at a near standstill, with Ohio State ranked first again and Oregon’s flip-flop with Ole Miss at Nos. 6 and 7 one of the few significant changes.

Oregon’s impressive victory over Southern Cal in one of last week’s few games between ranked teams accounted for its move up one spot over Mississippi, which didn’t play last week.

Following the Buckeyes for the fourth time in four rankings were fellow undefeated teams Indiana and Texas A&M. Georgia stayed at No. 4, followed by Texas Tech. After Oregon and Mississippi came Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama and BYU.

Ohio State and Indiana will play in what should be a 1 vs. 2 Big Ten title game if both win rivalry games on the road over Thanksgiving weekend. Ohio State’s task is more difficult — against Michigan, which moved up three spots to No. 15. Indiana plays Purdue.

No. 10 Alabama plays at Auburn with a spot in the SEC title game on the line. Their opponent would be Texas A&M if the Aggies win at No. 16 Texas.