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Gophers jump to No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankings – Minneapolis Star Tribune, Startribune.com

Gophers jump to No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankings – Minneapolis Star Tribune, Startribune.com


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The Gophers made the largest jump into the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings in the history of the poll.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

In this season’s first edition of the rankings from last week, the Gophers came in at No. 17. But a win against formerly No. 4 Penn State this past weekend launched the 9-0 Gophers to No. 8. Meanwhile, Penn State dropped to No. 9 after the 31 – (loss.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Chair of the CFP selection committee, Rob Mullens, called the win against Penn State “impressive,” with the Gophers’ “powerful offense” plus the performance against a highly ranked team why they ascended. )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

There are still four one-loss teams ahead of the Gophers, including No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Oregon and No. 7 Utah. But Baylor has the lowest ranking in the CFP era for any 9-0 team, taking up No. 13.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Mullens said the strength of the Gophers’ schedule is still their biggest hindrance, particularly the nonconference slate with three close wins against non-Power Five teams plus the fact that through last week, the Gophers had played only one Big Ten conference team with a winning record.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The same is true of Alabama, but Mullens couldn’t comment on any comparisons between the two teams as he has to recuse himself from the room when Oregon is up for discussion since he is the school’s athletics director.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

LSU took the top spot from Ohio State after beating previously No. 3 Alabama. Ohio State fell to No. 2 while Clemson climbed from No. 5 to No. 3. Saturday’s Gophers’ opponent Iowa is No. 20, while regular season finale foe Wisconsin is No. 14.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Barber update

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Senior linebacker Thomas Barber made crucial plays during Penn State’s final drive to preserve the Gophers’ 5-point win Saturday. He nearly intercepted Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and then tackled Journey Brown just outside the end zone.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

But that final low hit seemed to jam Barber head-first into the turf, and he ended up leaving the game.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

“It was a heck of a hit and kept him out of the end zone,” Fleck said. “… But he’s fine. He practiced [Tuesday], which was really good. He got back on the field and did a really good job. So he’s ready to go.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Senior linebacker Kamal Martin should also return Saturday at Iowa after missing the past two games with an apparent knee injury. Fleck said on his radio show Tuesday that Martin had practiced this week– basically for the first time since his injury – and looked good.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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