SALT LAKE CITY — When it comes to the College Football Playoff rankings, it was another record-setting week for the Utah Utes. Seven days after getting the program’s highest ranking at No. 8, they moved up a spot to No. 7.
Tuesday’s announcement, though, was met with little fanfare by Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. His response came after practice as the Utes continued preparation for Saturday’s home game against UCLA.
“Zero reaction,” Whittingham said. “My only reaction is trying to figure out how to compete with UCLA on Saturday.”
When the Utes take the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium, they’ll do as a team with 26 appearances in the CFP top 25. The only teams included more often since the rankings were created in 2014 are Alabama (33), Clemson (33), Ohio State (33), Oklahoma (31) and Louisiana State (29).
The Utes are off to an 8-1 start to the season. That includes a Pac-12 South-leading 5-1 mark and high rankings in the Associated Press top 25 (No. 8) and coaches poll (No. 9).
“Oh wow,” said defensive tackle Leki Fotu, who then added that it didn’t really mean a lot to him. “I guess it’s pretty cool to everyone else — the fans and everything. But I think I can speak for the team, just grateful to be in a spot that we are, but we’ve got a couple of games left. It won’t matter until the end of the season, so ...”
A pair of games pitting undefeated teams Saturday altered the landscape. LSU topped Alabama 46-41 in Tuscaloosa and Minnesota upended visiting Penn State 31-26. The outcomes led to the Tigers, who were No. 2 in the opening rankings, moving past Ohio State for No. 1. The Golden Gophers, meanwhile, climbed from No. 17 to No. 8 with their upset win. Alabama dropped to No. 5 with its setback, while Penn State fell to No. 9 — allowing Utah, which had a bye, to move up one spot this week.
The latest top 10 is led by LSU (9-0), Ohio State (9-0), Clemson (10-0), Georgia (8-1), Alabama (8-1), Oregon (8-1), Utah, Minnesota (9-0), Penn State (8-1) and Oklahoma (8-1). The rest of the latest top 25, in order, includes: Florida (8-2), Auburn (7-2), Baylor (9-0), Wisconsin (7-2), Michigan (7-2), Notre Dame (7-2), Cincinnati (8-1), Memphis (8-1), Texas (6-3), Iowa (6-3), Boise State (8-1), Oklahoma State (6-3), Navy (7-1), Kansas State (6-3) and Appalachian State (8-1).
The CFB committee — chaired by Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens and comprised of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta, former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, ex-Arizona Republic reporter Paola Boivin, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, former football coach Ken Hatfield, Robert Morris University President Christopher Howard, former USC defensive back Ronnie Lott, Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir, former Army chief of staff Ray Odierno, former football coach R.C. Slocum, Georgia Tech athletic director Todd Stansbury and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin — will release rankings six times this season. As was the case with the first two, the next three weekly announcements will be made on Tuesdays.
The final rankings, which include the naming of national semifinalists and participants in the New Year’s Six bowls, will be released on Sunday, Dec. 8.