Michigan State Football: Closing in on Playoff Berth in Latest Poll
By Zac Snyder
The Michigan State Spartans are sitting pretty in the College Football Playoff poll to secure a playoff berth with a win in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Less than one week remains until the final College Football Playoff poll is released that will lock in the four teams taking part in the two semifinal games.
The situation is simple for the representatives from the East and West divisions in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night. The winner will surely wrap up a playoff berth with a win.
For Iowa, that means holding their ground by adding a quality win. For Michigan State, that means jumping Iowa with the head-to-head victory and adding a quality win to their resume to stave off any late charging teams behind them.
The Iowa Hawkeyes head to Indianapolis to play for a Big Ten title as the number four ranked team in the committees rankings. Michigan State, despite being installed as the betting favorites by Vegas, enter one spot behind the Hawkeyes at number five.
Despite not being in playoff position heading into the final week, the Spartans are in as good of a position as they could have asked for after falling in controversial and disappointing fashion last month at Nebraska. Ranked fifth, they are the first team up should someone in the top four stumble. And with Iowa occupying one of those four spots, whether or not at least one of those four teams stumble is entirely in the Spartans’ control.
A Michigan State win on Saturday night only accomplishes the goal of another Big Ten title, but also keeps the dream of a national championship alive.
Next: Spartans must avoid letdown vs. Iowa
The full top 25 from the CFP committee is as follows:
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. Stanford
8. Notre Dame
9. Florida State
10. North Carolina
11. TCU
12. Baylor
13. Mississippi
14. Northwestern
15. Michiga
16. Oregon
17. Oklahoma State
18. Florida
19. Houston
20. Southern California
21. LSU
22. Temple
23. Navy
24. Utah
25. Tennessee
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The final College Football Playoff poll will be released on Sunday, December 6.