TCU overtakes Florida State in newest College Football Playoff rankings

TCU surprisingly overtook Florida State in the penultimate edition of the College Football Playoff rankings.

TCU moved up to No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, ahead of unbeaten Florida State at No. 4. Meanwhile, last week's No. 4, Mississippi State, fell all the way to No. 10 after losing its final regular season game.

The complete rankings are below.

1. Alabama

2. Oregon

3. TCU

4. Florida State

5. Ohio State

6. Baylor

7. Arizona

8. Michigan State

9. Kansas State

10. Mississippi State

11. Georgia Tech

12. Ole Miss

13. Wisconsin

14. Georgia

15. UCLA

16. Missouri

17. Arizona State

18. Clemson

19. Auburn

20. Oklahoma

21. Louisville

22. Boise State

23. Utah

24. LSU

25. USC

Here are three thoughts from the latest rankings:

1. TCU moving to No. 3 is a surprise

Many expected TCU, which was No. 5 in last week’s rankings, to jump Mississippi State at No. 4 after the Bulldogs’ loss to Ole Miss last week. Not many people expected the Horned Frogs to leap over unbeaten Florida State to No. 3. The Seminoles are the only unbeaten team in FBS and currently trail one-loss Alabama, Oregon and TCU in the rankings. Florida State only has two wins over top 25 teams in Clemson and Louisville, but TCU’s best nonconference victory – Minnesota – fell out of the rankings this week. ‘Noles’ fans can take heart in one notion, however: Florida State won’t be left out of the playoff if it beats No. 11 Georgia Tech in Saturday’s ACC title game.

• RICKMAN: Florida State sits at No. 2 in the latest Power Rankings

2. Mississippi State’s body of work is catching up to it

Mississippi State was a playoff team a week ago, but a loss in the Egg Bowl saw it tumble all the way down to No. 10. That’s tough for Bulldogs fans to hear, but the reality is this: Their program’s best wins came against a four-loss LSU team and a four-loss Auburn team. Mississippi State’s nonconference schedule, which was essentially ignored until now, might be finally coming into play. Wins over Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama and UT-Martin aren’t going to move the dial with this committee, nor should they. The Bulldogs might have two solid losses in Alabama and Ole Miss, but the rest of their body of work isn’t doing them any favors.

• ELLIS: Bowl Projections: Who's likely to make the playoff, all bowls?

3. Boise State is the Group of Five’s best bet for a New Year’s bowl

Last week, two schools from the Group of Five conferences cracked the playoff rankings. On Tuesday, only Boise State remained among the committee’s top 25. The Broncos came in at No. 22, while Marshall dropped out of the top 25. The Thundering Herd lost 67-66 to Western Kentucky last Friday, a result that likely cost them a shot at the Group of Five’s guaranteed berth in the New Year’s Six bowls. With one week remaining, Boise State will represent the Group of Five in that spot if it can win the Mountain West title.