Irish move up six spots in latest CFP rankings
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Georgia moved into the top spot in Tuesday night's College Football Playoff rankings, while Notre Dame moved up six notches to No. 5 to leapfrog two spots ahead of Miami on the strength of its win over the Hurricanes last weekend.
The second of the CFP's six rankings reveals had its usual share of head-scratchers, starting with Indiana dropping five spots to No. 9 despite not playing last weekend.
That, along with undefeated UCLA's move up four spots to No. 4 looked like another "correction" by a selection committee that, by most accounts, had a rough opening week.
There are three more Tuesday-night rankings shows before the bracket is set on Dec. 6 -- the day after the last round of conference title games that will go by the wayside when the playoff expands to 24 teams next season.
This year's bracket involves 12 teams. The rest of the top 12 included No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 10 BYU, No. 11 Kentucky and No. 12 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders would be the first team out, with No. 24 Boise State getting the last spot as the best team among the Group of Six.
Not used to losing
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Facing the first regular-season losing streak of his eight years as head coach at Ohio State, Ryan Day acknowledged feelings of anger and frustration permeating the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as another game week began.
The 21st-ranked Buckeyes dropped 10 spots in the AP Top 25 after a humbling 41-28 loss to Oregon on Saturday. That came a week after Ohio State, then ranked No. 2, lost at Southern California 30-18.
Although they are not mathematically eliminated, the Buckeyes (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) are staring at the possibility of missing the Big Ten Championship Game as they share third place in the standings with five other teams.
Ohio State's College Football Playoff hopes are also hanging by a thread, but Day said he is not ready to turn his attention to other postseason opportunities or preparing for 2027 with three games remaining.
Day said, "I'm not there yet," and noted the Big Ten has rules regarding a team potentially declining a bowl bid, but he did allow that development is still part of the equation with Northwestern coming to town this weekend. After that, the Buckeyes will go to Nebraska before concluding the regular season at home against archival Michigan.
No ND and Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida has canceled a home-and-home series with Notre Dame scheduled for the 2031-32 seasons.
Florida signed the deal in 2021 while the Southeastern Conference was playing eight league games. The Gators had been slated to play in South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 15, 2031. But with the SEC moving to nine-game conference slates beginning this season, Florida had a difficult time justifying playing nine league games, a rivalry game against Florida State and a perennial powerhouse like Notre Dame in back-to-back years.
The decision led to the Fighting Irish announcing a home-and-home series with Washington. Notre Dame also recently signed a home-and-home with Illinois, which was dropped by another SEC team, Missouri.
Schiano returning
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers says football coach Greg Schiano is returning next year despite back-to-back losing seasons. Rutgers is 2-7 and will miss out on a bowl bid for the second straight season.
The Scarlet Knights have lost 12 of their last 15 Big Ten Conference games. Schiano is 101-115 and in his 18th season at Rutgers, making him the winningest coach in program history. He also is the highest-paid state employee in New Jersey, earning $6.75 million.
He signed a six‑year extension in December 2023 that began with a $6.25 million base salary in 2024. Schiano would be owed approximately $18.9 million if fired without cause.
Elsewhere:
– Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich received an immediate $700,000 raise to $1.8 million under terms of his new contract.
The contract runs through the 2029 season. Aurich's pay will be bumped to $1.9 million in 2028 and $2 million in 2029. Aurich is in his first season at Nebraska and originally signed a three-year contract.
The extension comes while the Cornhuskers are on a four-game losing streak and the week after offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was fired.