Michigan moved to No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 1997, with Georgia relinquishing its long grip on the spot after its loss to Alabama on Saturday.
The latest poll was released Sunday, just an hour before the College Football Playoff committee was set to determine which four teams would vie for the national championship.
Michigan received 51 first-place votes, and No. 2 Washington was rewarded with the other 11. They were followed by No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Florida State.
The Longhorns (12-1) are the only team in the top four with a loss. The others are 13-0.
Should the CFP rankings agree with the Top 25 poll, a Southeastern Conference team would be out of the playoff for the first time since it started in 2015.
Alabama climbed three spots to No. 5 after defeating Georgia 27-24 in the SEC championship game. Georgia had won 29 straight games and sat atop the Top 25 for 24 straight weeks amid back-to-back CFP titles.
Ohio State fell a spot to No. 7 and were followed in the Top 10 by Oregon, Missouri and Penn State.
–Field Level Media
