The upcoming College Football Playoff rankings will clarify the battle for the 12-team playoff as we approach the conference championship weekend.

Eight spots are secured, no matter the outcomes this Friday and Saturday. A ninth position will be filled by a Group of Five team, with Boise State expected to claim that spot by defeating UNLV in the Mountain West Championship.

The one matchup that could alter the landscape is in the ACC. Teams like Alabama, hoping for a surprise playoff entry, will be cheering for SMU to overcome Clemson to ensure only one ACC team makes the playoff.

Ohio State and Miami are two squads to keep an eye on. Both are anticipated to drop significantly in the rankings after their Saturday losses, with the Buckeyes likely still in the playoff hunt while the same cannot be said for the Hurricanes.

How these teams are ranked on Tuesday night leads to several important questions that will impact the latest playoff standings:

What will happen to Ohio State?

The Buckeyes are currently ranked behind SMU and Tennessee in the US LBM Coaches Poll. However, the playoff selection committee might view Ohio State more favorably due to their victories over Penn State and Indiana, which have been highly regarded throughout this ranking season. As a result, Ohio State might only drop four places on Tuesday, placing them above both SMU and Tennessee.

Where will Miami end up in the rankings?

The Hurricanes are set to experience a more drastic decline. After being ranked No. 6 prior to their defeat against Syracuse, they are likely to fall out of the top 12 and be positioned below several SEC teams with three losses, such as Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Their recent struggles, including losses in two of their last three games and a lack of wins against ranked opponents, are the primary factors behind this significant drop. Miami’s hopes of making the playoffs are virtually non-existent unless the committee makes an unexpected decision.

Will the ACC only have one playoff bid?

The most favorable outcome for the ACC would have been for two one-loss teams to compete for the conference title, allowing the victor a first-round bye while the loser still qualified for an at-large entry. While Miami’s loss raises the likelihood of the ACC being a one-bid conference, it’s not a certainty. Should Clemson win, they would enter the final rankings at No. 12, with the Pac-12 champion becoming one of the four top seeds. Meanwhile, SMU’s position at 11-2 would still be promising, but their ranking on Tuesday will greatly influence their potential, especially in the event of a loss to the Tigers.

Which teams are guaranteed a playoff spot?

Eight teams have effectively secured their playoff positions. Four are from the Big Ten: Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana. The winner of the Big Ten championship between the Ducks and Nittany Lions will gain a first-round bye. The Buckeyes are set to host an opening-round game, though this could change if Penn State wins the championship, potentially pushing Oregon into at-large status which might drop Ohio State’s ranking and force them to compete on the road.

Notre Dame has also earned a playoff spot. The Irish head into the postseason having won 10 straight games and are currently performing at their strongest under head coach Marcus Freeman. The other three playoff guarantees come from the SEC, with both Texas and Georgia confirmed for the field prior to the conference title game, and Tennessee finishing the regular season with two losses after their victory over Vanderbilt.

Is the American Athletic Conference out of the running?

This depends on where UNLV ranks in comparison to Army, assuming Army is able to return to the rankings following their loss to Notre Dame. Last week, the Rebels were No. 22 and should maintain that position, or possibly climb slightly after achieving their second-ever 10-win season.

Tulane’s defeat against Memphis was detrimental for the American Conference. This loss will remove the Green Wave, who were ranked No. 17, and pave the way for the Mountain West champion to represent the Group of Five in the playoff. If UNLV remains near No. 20 and defeats the Broncos, it would be nearly impossible for Army to close that gap with a win over an unranked Tulane.