:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51743255/usa-today-9654891.0.jpg)
The second set of College Football Playoff rankings are out!. Last week, Auburn was ranked 9th in the initial rankings. This week, the Tigers stayed at 9th since Texas A&M only dropped to 8th after their loss to Mississippi State. Everyone else won. The Playoff Committee doesn't exactly act like the major polls in letting that matter to them, but Auburn wasn't likely to jump anyone else above them with the close victory over Vanderbilt.
Alabama is, of course, still #1. Texas A&M, following their loss, drops all the way to #8th. Does that mean Texas A&M has a better path to the CFB Playoff? No. Because if Auburn wins out, Auburn will be the conference champion.
The Rankings
1) Alabama
2) Clemson
3) Michigan
4) Washington
5) Ohio State
6) Louisville
7) Wisconsin
8) Texas A&M
9) Auburn
10) Penn State
11) Oklahoma
12) Colorado
13) Oklahoma State
14) Virginia Tech
15) Utah
16) West Virginia
17) North Carolina
18) Florida State
19) Nebraska
20) USC
21) Western Michigan
22) Boise State
23) Washington State
24) LSU
25) Arkansas
The Schedule & Going Forward
LSU dropped considerably - probably too far given how well they played - after their loss to Alabama, but they're still ranked. Meanwhile, Arkansas makes an appearance at 25, which improves Auburn's strength of schedule after the butt-whooping Auburn gave them.
Auburn controls their own destiny in the SEC, which is fantastic. There are still scenarios where even as SEC Champion, the committee could leave Auburn out. What if Wisconsin - with two losses and an OOC victory over LSU - goes to the B1G Championship and defeats an undefeated Michigan? Will the committee leave the Wolverines out or will they take two B1G teams? I think there's a good chance the do the latter. I don't think (though I could be wrong) the same scenario plays out if Ohio State defeats Michigan and then loses in the B1G championship or if they are beaten by Wisconsin and Michigan is sitting outside of the conference championship with a loss. I think then you could see the two two-loss conference champions in.
There are still so many different scenarios for what could happen in the Playoffs. All Auburn can do right now is play their games in front of them. Georgia is the primary focus right now. Beat the Dawgs or none of this matters.