AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas moved up one spot to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings ahead of the Longhorns’ rematch with Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
The latest poll released Sunday still has Oregon as the unanimous No. 1 team following the Ducks’ 49-21 win over rival Washington, but Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan caused the next five teams to each move up a spot. Penn State is No. 3, Notre Dame is No. 4 while Georgia is No. 5 after beating Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes.
Tennessee is No. 6 followed by the Buckeyes who dropped five spots to No. 7. Southern Methodist, Indiana and Boise State round out the top 10.
Texas leaned on its defense yet again to win the Lone Star Showdown 17-7 over the Texas A&M Aggies, who dropped out of the rankings after being No. 20 going into the game. It was the first time in 13 years that the rivals had played since A&M left the Big 12 Conference for the SEC.
A new set of rankings from the College Football Playoff selection committee is due Tuesday, and then on Dec. 8 the final rankings will be announced and the 12-team bracket will be made. Texas is virtually assured a spot in the field after qualifying for the SEC championship game but a win would give them a first-round bye and spot in the quarterfinals Dec. 31-Jan. 1. A loss would most likely mean they would host a first-round game Dec. 20-21.
Here’s a look at all of the conference championship games around the country:
- SEC: Georgia vs. Texas, 3 p.m. CT, Dec. 7, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, ABC
- Big 10: Penn State vs. Oregon, 7 p.m. CT, Dec. 7, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, CBS
- Big 12: Iowa State vs. Arizona State, 11 a.m. CT, Dec. 7, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, ABC
- ACC: Clemson vs. SMU, 7 p.m. CT, Dec. 7, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, ABC
- Sun Belt: Marshall vs. Louisiana, 6:30 p.m. CT, Dec. 7, Cajun Field, Lafayette, Louisiana, ESPN
- American Athletic: Tulane vs. Army, 7 p.m. CT, Dec. 6, Michie Stadium, West Point, N.Y., ABC
- Mountain West: UNLV vs. Boise State, 7 p.m. CT, Dec. 6, Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho, FOX
- Conference USA: Western Kentucky vs. Jacksonville State, 6 p.m. CT, Dec. 6, AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, Alabama, CBS Sports Network
- MAC: Ohio vs. Miami (OH), 11 a.m. CT, Dec. 7, Ford Field, Detroit, ESPN