On the advent of Army’s most challenging task of the season, the Black Knights moved up five spots, to No. 19, in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff rankings, the third release which came out Tuesday night.
Army (9-0) is a two-touchdown underdog to Notre Dame (9-1) when the long-time rivals meet for the 52nd time on Saturday at venerable Yankee Stadium (NBC, 7 p.m. ET).
Should Army win and move to 10-0, the Black Knights will surely move up in the fourth CFP release next week and inch closer to the likely single bid to come from the Group of Five conferences. An Army setback, though, would give the committee just enough ammo to torpedo its chances.
Either way, Mountain West Conference leader Boise State (9-1) still has the momentum, a better CFP ranking (No. 12) and an easier schedule to wrap up the regular season: a Nov. 23 game at Wyoming (2-8); a Nov. 29 home game with Oregon State (4-6); and, the MWC championship on Dec. 6, perhaps against Colorado State (7-3).
In the current AP Top 25 rankings, Notre Dame is No. 6 (up two spots); Boise State is No. 12 (up one spot), Army is No. 18 (down two spots off a bye); and, American Athletic contender Tulane is No. 20 (up five spots following a shutout win over Navy).
“There’s a lot of football to be played before all those decisions are made,” Army head coach Jeff Monken told radio host Rich Eisen on his show on Tuesday.
Monken told Eisen that it’s hard for his players not to see discussion of Army in the rankings, but the single-minded focus of the Black Knights thus far is what’s taken them to one of only three unbeaten marks in the country.
“I’m certain our guys are influenced like everybody else: their friends, their family, social media,” Monken said. “They’ve got a phone. They read a lot of stuff about that. But we don’t talk about it.”
According to an ESPN analysis, Boise State, Tulane (9-2) and Army are the top three schools vying from the Group of Five, followed by Nevada Las Vegas and Louisiana. Another projected hurdle is the American Athletic Conference title game on Dec. 6, where Tulane is currently rated a 77.5 percent chance to win vs. Army at 22.5 percent. The final CFP ranking Sunday, Dec. 8.
The actual rankings have Oregon, Ohio State, Texas and Penn State in the top four; Indiana, Notre Dame, Alabama and Miami in the next four; and, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Boise State as the next four. Starting at No. 13, the rest of the third ranking has Southern Methodist; Brigham Young; Texas A&M; Colorado; Clemson; South Carolina; Army; Tulane; Arizona State; Iowa State; Missouri; Nevada Las Vegas; and, Illinois.
The current CFP first-round projection has No. 12 seed Brigham Young visiting No. 5 Ohio State (winner to play No. 4 Boise State); No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Notre Dame (winner to play No. 1 Oregon); No. 11 Georgia at No. 6 Penn State (winner to play No. 3 Miami); and, No. 10 Mississippi at No. 7 Indiana (winner to play No. 2 Texas).
Eisen told Monken he thought it would be “phenomenal” for an “old-school” program like Army to make the CFP. Monken refused to bite, though, simply agreeing with the famed host.
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Following the Notre Dame game, Army will host Texas San Antonio on Nov. 30 (CBSSN, noon ET); face Tulane in the AAC title game on Dec. 6 (ABC, 8 p.m. ET, host team yet to be determined); and, Navy on Dec. 14 (CBS, 3 p.m. ET) in Landover, Md. The Black Knights will play in the CFP playoff or in one of eight bowl games affiliated with the AAC.
“Every American should be an Army fan,” Monken said.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army jumps five spots in third College Football Playoff ranking
