The College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday night show a moment of tranquility before significant changes.

With No. 2 Ohio State preparing to take on No. 5 Indiana, and No. 19 Army facing No. 6 Notre Dame, along with other important matchups amongst ranked teams in the Power Four, this Saturday’s games will play a crucial role in clarifying an otherwise unpredictable race for the 12-team playoff.

Next week, we expect a clearer view of the Bowl Subdivision landscape, especially concerning which teams will be competing in their respective conference championship games.

Currently, the latest rankings highlight the decline of two teams that were once in the top seven: No. 14 Brigham Young and No. 11 Tennessee. BYU dropped eight spots following a loss to Kansas, while Tennessee fell four spots after losing to No. 10 Georgia.

Despite their setbacks, both teams still have opportunities to regain a spot in the playoff picture. Tennessee will likely need to pursue an at-large bid, while BYU is currently tied for first in the Big 12 and can secure a championship game appearance with a victory over No. 21 Arizona State this Saturday.

These developments place BYU and Tennessee alongside Georgia and the Big Ten as the focal points of this week’s rankings:

Winners

Georgia

The Bulldogs have returned to the playoff picture after their triumph over Tennessee, and they are likely to maintain their placement with upcoming victories against Massachusetts and Georgia Tech. By missing the SEC championship game, Georgia avoids the risk of a third loss, which helps their playoff chances. Their recent win showcased their strengths as playoff contenders: solid victories, manageable losses, and the toughest schedule among all Power Four teams still in contention. Georgia has notable wins over Tennessee, No. 3 Texas, and No. 17 Clemson.

Big Ten

These rankings give a glimpse into the current state of affairs: though one of these four teams is expected to fall out after Saturday’s games, having four of the top five teams illustrates that even the SEC has trouble keeping up with the top tier of the Big Ten. The rankings are topped by an undefeated Oregon, which has already secured its place in the conference championship game. Additionally, No. 4 Penn State has managed to stay slightly ahead of Indiana after a ranked win over No. 25 Illinois. The Nittany Lions will have an opportunity to add another solid win this Saturday against Minnesota.

Losers

Brigham Young

Ranking below No. 12 Boise State at this stage seems to overlook BYU’s victories against No. 13 SMU and Kansas State, which overshadow the Broncos’ wins over No. 24 UNLV and Washington State. Though Boise State boasts a strong loss to Oregon, which has been significant in past playoff evaluations. The committee seems focused on BYU’s close wins against Utah and Oklahoma State, as well as their limited success against teams with winning records. Additionally, BYU’s performance hasn’t consistently impressed observers, which is an important factor.

However, this ranking situation could change if BYU wins the Big 12, as that will impact which conference champion secures an opening-round bye alongside the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC. The Cougars have the chance to notch ranked wins against Arizona State and No. 16 Colorado, while Boise State finishes up against Wyoming, Oregon State, and either Colorado State or UNLV again. If BYU can win out, they could very well surpass Boise in the rankings. A victory over Arizona State could even propel them ahead next week.

Tennessee

Being ranked fifth among SEC teams at this point reflects the Volunteers’ slim chances of landing an at-large bid. Tennessee can’t seem to catch up to No. 7 Alabama, even though they previously defeated the Crimson Tide. Furthermore, the Volunteers have little chance of surpassing Georgia after last Saturday’s defeat. They may struggle to move ahead of No. 9 Mississippi due to the shared opponent results with Georgia. Based on the current rankings, Tennessee’s needs are clear: they require No. 3 Texas to lose against No. 15 Texas A&M in their final game, followed by the Aggies losing in the SEC championship. If four SEC teams are selected for the playoffs, which seems likely, the Volunteers would be next in line.