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Iowa State is No. 15 in first College Football Playoff rankings
The Gazette
Oct. 31, 2017 7:23 pm
Iowa State has two of the best wins in the country this season, having won at Oklahoma and, last week, beaten then-No. 4 TCU. It means the Cyclones (6-2) are the second-highest ranked two-loss team in this season's first College Football Playoff rankings, coming in at No. 15.
Auburn (6-2) is No. 14 with losses to Clemson and LSU.
This is the first time Iowa State has been ranked in the CFP top 25, a format started in 2014. The Cyclones are No. 14 in this week's Associated Press top 25 and No. 16 in the coaches poll.
Georgia, backed by its win over Notre Dame, debuts at No. 1 ahead of SEC foe Alabama. Notre Dame and Clemson round out the top four, the spots that matter at the end of the season when it's time to determine playoff participants.
No. 5 Oklahoma is the Big 12's highest-ranked team, while Ohio State — which visits Iowa this week — at No. 6 is the highest-ranked Big Ten squad. Penn State is No. 7 and TCU is eighth.
Wisconsin is the Big Ten's last remaining unbeaten, but its weak schedule pushed it to No. 9 despite being ranked fourth in this week's coaches poll. The Badgers' eight wins have come against teams with a combined 29-37 record. Fellow unbeaten Miami is 10th.
College Football Playoff rankings: Oct. 31, 2017
1. Georgia (8-0)
2. Alabama (8-0)
3. Notre Dame (7-1)
4. Clemson (7-1)
5. Oklahoma (7-1)
6. Ohio State (7-1)
7. Penn State (7-1)
8. TCU (7-1)
9. Wisconsin (8-0)
10. Miami (7-0)
11. Oklahoma State (7-1)
12. Washington (7-1)
13. Virginia Tech (7-1)
14. Auburn (6-2)
15. Iowa State (6-2)
16. Mississippi State (6-2)
17. USC (7-2)
18. Central Florida (7-0)
19. LSU (6-2)
20. North Carolina State (6-2)
21. Stanford (6-2)
22. Arizona (6-2)
23. Memphis (7-1)
24. Michigan State (6-2)
25. Washington State (7-2)
An Iowa State Cyclones fan holds up a 'WE WANT BAMA' sign before Saturday's game against TCU. The Cyclones are No. 15 in this season's first College Football Playoff rankings. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)