CFP Poll, Week 3: What It Means For The Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

The third College Football Playoff Poll was released Tuesday night.  This week’s biggest mover was Ohio State, who climbed from No. 14 to No. 8 after an impressive win against Michigan State Saturday night. 

The committee’s Top 25 rankings are as follows:

1.       Mississippi State

2.       Oregon

3.       Florida State

4.       TCU

5.       Alabama

6.       Arizona State

7.       Baylor

8.       Ohio State

9.       Auburn

10.   Ole Miss

11.   UCLA

12.   Michigan State

13.   Kansas State

14.   Arizona

15.   Georgia

16.   Nebraska

17.   LSU

18.   Notre Dame

19.   Clemson

20.   Wisconsin

21.   Duke

22.   Georgia Tech

23.   Utah

24.   Texas A&M

25.   Minnesota

If the college football season ended today, the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl would most likely feature No. 16 Nebraska, No. 20 Wisconsin or No. 12 Michigan State from the Big Ten against No. 17 LSU, No. 15 Georgia, or No. 24 Texas A&M  from the SEC. 

Wisconsin and LSU have squared off three times in the schools’ histories; including Week 1 this year.  All three times the Tigers have come away with a victory. Wisconsin has played Georgia twice, falling to the Bulldogs both times, the most recent being in 2005 with a final score of 21-24. Despite the fact that the Badgers have never played Texas A&M, a game between the two schools would provide an enticing matchup on paper. Wisconsin currently boast’s the top defense among all FBS schools, while A&M features a high-flying, top-20 offense. 

The last time Michigan State played LSU was in 1995, losing 45-26.  With the Spartans ranked in the top ten for both total offense and defense among FBS schools, a victory for the Tigers might be more of a struggle than last time.  Michigan State met Georgia on the field three times total, walking away with its most recent win 33-30 in the 2009 New Year’s Day Game.  Michigan State and Texas A&M have played three times, the most recent being in 1959.