For the first time in the eight-year history of the College Football Playoff, a team from a Group of 5 conference has cracked the top four in the selection committee's rankings, which would assure it a spot in one of the two semifinals games on New Year's Eve.
Cincinnati, one of just three undefeated teams left in the FBS, is ranked No. 4 in the latest rankings that were released on Tuesday night, behind No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Alabama.
Michigan is No. 5, followed by Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Ole Miss and Oklahoma.