ESPN analyst comments on latest CFP rankings for Ohio State, Baylor

The latest College Football Playoff Top 25 was released Tuesday night and included a shakeup among the top-four teams. But in addition to the primary four, the remainder of the top-10 featured some key changes and makes things interesting heading into conference championships this weekend.

Looking specifically at Ohio State and Baylor, the Buckeyes came in at No. 7 this week after losing 42-27 to Michigan, while the Bears are now sitting at No. 9 – falling a spot despite beating Texas Tech 27-24 last week.

According to ESPN college football analyst Joey Galloway, he thinks the No. 7 spot is an important place to be at this point in case any of the teams ahead of it were to lose this week.

“I think it gets interesting right around here, Reece,” Galloway said on ESPN’s College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings show Tuesday. “We’ve all talked about, ‘What if chaos happens? What if Michigan loses, ‘Bama loses, Cincinnati loses, Oklahoma State loses?’ All of a sudden No. 7 isn’t completely out of this thing. They’re right there on the verge of having a chance if chaos does happen. I would imagine this is the final place where teams could get a chance to jump into that top-four.”

Where does Baylor stand at this point?

Although Baylor took care of business last week by winning 27-24 over Texas Tech, the Bears dropped a spot in this week’s College Football Playoff Top 25 – falling from No. 8 to No. 9.

Despite its drop, however, Baylor could still move up in the rankings if it were to beat No. 5 Oklahoma State on Saturday in the Big 12 championship game – and if any of the teams ahead of the Bears were to lose.

“The fact that Baylor just slipped a spot … that surprises me after winning a game,” Galloway said. “Could they [still make it]? Yes. This is that area, though, and I think we’ve all talked about, ‘What happens if chaos happens ahead of us?,’ because it is not out of the realm of possibilities that these teams who are above No. 7 could lose – and then it gets real interesting.”

A look at the latest College Football Playoff Top 10

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee revealed its penultimate 2021 CFP rankings ahead of a loaded conference championship week slate. The committee ranked the top contenders for the four-team playoff and those with a chance at the New Year’s Six bowls during ESPN’s Tuesday night reveal show.

Here’s a look at the latest top-10 teams in the rankings.

1. Georgia (12-0)
2. Michigan (11-1)
3. Alabama (11-1)
4. Cincinnati (12-0)
5. Oklahoma State (11-1)
6. Notre Dame (11-1)
7. Ohio State (10-2)
8. Ole Miss (10-2)
9. Baylor (10-2)
10. Oregon (10-2)