Breaking Down MSU's No. 18 Ranking in the College Football Playoff

by Bill Martin, Associate Athletic Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State will take the field in the 91^st Battle for the Golden Egg ranked No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings that were unveiled Tuesday night by the committee.

The Bulldogs (7-5, 3-4) climbed three spots from last week's No. 21 ranking and are one of a nation-best seven teams from the SEC: No. 1 Alabama, No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 LSU, No. 11 Florida, No. 15 Kentucky and No. 22 Texas A&M.

Below are some notes on MSU's ranking:

With a 7-4 record, State is the highest ranked four-loss team in the poll for the second straight week and one of four four-loss teams in the Top 25, joining No. 19 Northwestern, No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 24 Pittsburgh.
All four of the Bulldogs' losses occurred to teams in the current top 15, including three on the road. Those four teams have a combined record of 36-8 (No. 1 Alabama, No. 7 LSU, No. 11 Florida and No. 15 Kentucky). State held the No. 1 ranked team to its lowest point total (24) and lowest offensive yardage total (305) of the season.
The Bulldogs own a double-digit victory (28-13) over current No. 22 Texas A&M.
There have been 29 College Football Playoff rankings since the formula's inception in 2014. MSU has been ranked in 20 of them, which is tied with Auburn for the third-highest total in the SEC behind Alabama (29) and LSU (25).
MSU has been ranked in 10 consecutive editions of the poll dating back to Oct. 29 last season.
In three out of the four rankings editions this season, State has been in the top 20.

MSU and Ole Miss renew their annual rivalry at 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Egg Bowl will be televised by ESPN with Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.

College Football Playoff Rankings (Nov. 20)
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. Michigan
5. Georgia
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU
8. Washington State
9. UCF
10. Ohio State
11. Florida
12. Penn State
13. West Virginia
14. Texas
15. Kentucky
16. Washington
17. Utah
18. Mississippi State
19. Northwestern
20. Syracuse
21. Utah State
22. Texas A&M
23. Boise State
24. Pittsburgh
25. Iowa State

MSU Week-by-Week in the CFP Rankings
Oct. 30: 18
Nov. 6: 16
Nov. 13: 21
Nov. 20: 18

Mississippi State University Athletics

Breaking Down MSU's No. 18 Ranking in the College Football Playoff

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