ESPN analyst praise Iowa and Michigan State during College Football Rankings

In the second to last reveal of the season for the College Football Playoff, the Big Ten conference is still standing strong. They have a total of four teams ranked in the top 15 with 10 wins or greater on the season. Of those four, two are just outside of the top 10, Michigan State Spartans and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Both teams have had phenomenal seasons and have been ranked as high as number 2 in either the AP poll or the College Football Playoff. And although both teams are currently sitting on the outside looking in, they still have a chance to make more noise come bowl season. The College Football Playoff reveal crew at ESPN had this to say about these two Big Ten schools.

“Iowa playing in the Big Ten championship game, up three spots Herbie before they take on Michigan,” said Rece Davis, passing the topic to Kirk Herbstreit.

“Yeah it’s good to see the Hawkeyes have bounced back. 10 wins in the regular season. Phenomenal effort by Kirk Ferentz and his bunch,” said Herbstreit about Iowa.

“And how about Mel Tucker. After Michigan State went to Columbus got embarrassed, go back home. All the noise off the field about his contract. They go out in the snow and take care of business in a rivalry game; and they are close to being in the top ten as we get near the end of the regular season,” Herbstreit said of Michigan State.

College Football Playoff top 25 reveal

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee revealed its penultimate 2021 CFP rankings ahead of a loaded conference championship week slate. The committee ranked the top contenders for the four-team playoff and those with a chance at the New Year’s Six bowls during ESPN’s Tuesday night reveal show.

With big movement after Saturday’s big wins and upset losses during rivalry week, the penultimate 2021 CFP rankings offer a new look at where the committee views each team, with some team’s preparing for a title and others in the clubhouse. The CFP Selection Committee provided a top 25 based on the latest results and ongoing power struggles between key storyline builders. As the season winds down, the committee looks at each data point for evenly matched teams.

The undefeated Georgia Bulldogs remain on top, again making them unanimous across the AP poll, coaches’ poll and CFP rankings. Georgia’s dominance continues to be the one thing all analysts can agree on this season, leaving little doubt on top of any rankings. With an SEC Championship date against Alabama looming, the SEC can shake up the rankings over the final week, win or loss.

The remainder of the top four – and top 25 – continued to show what this version of the CFP Selection Committee values. With debate over head coaching changes, conference value and strength of schedule reach the forefront in the end. As the final authority, the CFP Selection Committee issued their official ruling on all debates, paving the way for future discussion on the matter.

Georgia, Michigan, Alabama and Cincinnati make up the new-look top-four, with Oklahoma State and Notre Dame on the outside looking in. The Bulldogs and Cincinnati are the only undefeated teams which remain undefeated at the conclusion of the regular season. After another exciting slate of college football games, take a look at the penultimate 2021 CFP rankings.

On’3 James Fletcher III has the complete CFP top-25 rankings