CFP Poll, Week 5: What It Means For The Russell Athletic Bowl

The fifth of seven Top 25 rankings decided by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee was released Tuesday night.  A few upsets in the ACC have shaken up the bottom half of the Top 25 and in turn, the list of potential teams for the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Here are the committee’s Top 25 teams through week 14 of the season:

1.       Alabama

2.       Oregon

3.       Florida State

4.       Mississippi State

5.       TCU

6.       Ohio State

7.       Baylor

8.       UCLA

9.       Georgia

10.   Michigan State

11.   Arizona

12.   Kansas State

13.   Arizona State

14.   Wisconsin

15.   Auburn

16.   Georgia Tech

17.   Missouri

18.   Minnesota

19.   Ole Miss

20.   Oklahoma

21.   Clemson

22.   Louisville

23.   Boise State

24.   Marshall

25.   Utah

If the season ended today, the Russell Athletic Bowl would have options that include No. 12 Kansas State or No. 20 Oklahoma in the Big 12 (pending a selection of one by the Valero Alamo Bowl) and No. 21 Clemson or No. 22 Louisville in the ACC.

Clemson has never squared off against Kansas State, but the Tigers have played Oklahoma three times, the last coming in the 1989 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.  Clemson’s defense is currently first overall among FBS teams, leading to an enticing potential matchup with the Sooners’ dynamic freshman running back Samaje Perine.

Louisville faced off against Kansas State in 2006 and 2008, claiming both victories.  The Cardinals played the Sooners twice as well, but fell to Oklahoma both times.  Louisville could possibly slow down Perine with its No. 7 overall defense among the Football Bowl Subdivision teams.