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The top teams in the SEC and the Big Ten face challenges Saturday from one-loss teams.
Alabama faces a team that’s already clinched a playoff berth — in the Football Championship Series, aka Division I-AA.
The Crimson Tide (9-1) plays host to Charleston Southern (9-1) before finishing the regular season in the Iron Bowl against Auburn.
Ohio State (10-0) faces a stiffer test against visiting Michigan State (9-1). The Spartans, ranked in the top 10 throughout the season before a controversial loss two weeks ago at Nebraska, present the first real test for the defending national champions.
Only one remains before showdown Saturday when the Buckeyes play at archrival Michigan the (8-2).
THE CONTENDERS
1. Ohio State (10-0)
2. Alabama (9-1)
3. Michigan State (9-1)
4. Iowa (10-0)
5. Michigan (8-2)
6. Florida (9-1)
7. Arkansas (6-4)
8. LSU (8-2)
Ohio State and Alabama enter the final two weeks of the regular-season as the clear premier team in their respective conferences. Ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide are only three victories away from making the final four. Michigan State could supplant Ohio State with a victory in Columbus. Iowa will get its chance at the Playoff in the Big Ten Championship Game. Florida is waiting for a similar chance in Atlanta. Arkansas slipped in front of LSU by beating the Tigers, who have dropped two in a row.
THE PRETENDERS
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. Northwestern
12. Wisconsin
Capable of beating the best, but also susceptible to losing to middle-of-the-road opponents, these teams are bowl bound. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have opportunities to improve their bowl position with games against LSU and Arkansas, respectively. Either Northwestern or Wisconsin is likely to drop out of the top 25 following the team’s game Saturday in Madison.
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
13. Tennessee
14. Georgia
15. Penn State
16. Texas A&M
Tennessee has won three straight, but the Volunteers momentum has slowed after unimpressive victories over South Carolina and North Texas. Georgia claimed its most impressive triumph of the season at Auburn, giving Mark Richt a slight reprieve. Neither Penn State nor Texas A&M is playing particularly well, but they’re a step above the cellar dwellers.
SHOW ME
17. Auburn
18. Indiana
19. Nebraska
20. Missouri
Watch out for Nebraska and Missouri, two old rivals from the Big XII. The Huskers have already knocked off Michigan State. They’ll get Iowa in Lincoln on the final weekend. Mizzou, fresh off a tumultuous week culminated by a victory over Brigham Young, can derail Tennessee and Arkansas, earning a bowl berth by winning either game.
BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG
21. Minnesota
22. Illinois
23. Vanderbilt
24. Kentucky
25. South Carolina
26. Rutgers
27. Maryland
28. Purdue
Vanderbilt is playing better. The Commodores kept Kentucky reeling. Next up is Texas A&M. Kentucky still has a chance at a bowl game, but must beat Charlotte and archrival Louisville. Illinois can clinch a bowl berth with a victory over Minnesota.
