The College Football Playoff rankings are turning heads after Alabama was included with three losses

Miami’s playoff hopes took a potentially fatal nosedive while Alabama got a boost in the final rankings Tuesday night before the playoff round for the 12-team College Football League is set next weekend.

The Hurricanes (10-2) moved up six spots to No. 12 – the first team to drop out of the scheduled group after their second loss of the season. They are one spot behind the Crimson Tide (9-3), which won last week and moved up two spots to No. 11, where they are projected to be the last team.

It was the strongest indication yet that the selection committee is looking not just at wins and losses, but also at strength of schedule and other factors that appear to give the Southeastern Conference an edge.

Oregon remained No. 1 for the fifth straight week and will advance to Saturday’s Big Ten title game as the only undefeated team in major college football.

The pairings for college football’s first 12-team playoffs will be determined Sunday, a day after a series of conference title games. Playoff games begin Dec. 20, with the title game scheduled for Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

College Football Playoff Rankings: Week 15

1. Oregon (12-0)
2. Texas (11-1)
3. Penn State (11-1)
4. Notre Dame (11-1)
5. Georgia (10-2)
6. Ohio State (10-2)
7. Tennessee (10-2)
8. SMU (11-1)
9. Indiana (11-1)
10. Boise State (11-1)
11. Alabama (9-3)
12. Miami (10-2)
13. Ole Miss (9-3)
14. South Carolina (9-3)
15. Arizona State (10-2)
16. Iowa State (10-2)
17. Clemson (9-3)
18. BYU (10-2)
19. Missouri (9-3)
20. UNLV (10-2)
21. Illinois (9-3)
22. Syracuse (9-3)
23. Colorado (9-3)
24. Army (10-1)
25. Memphis (10-2)

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