Washington joins UGA, Ohio St., U-M atop CFP
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
Washington leapfrogged Florida State into the No. 4 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, after beating its third straight ranked opponent this past weekend.
While the top three remained unchanged — Georgia is still No. 1, followed by Ohio State at No. 2 and Michigan at No. 3 — Washington moved into the top four for the first time this season, and Florida State fell to No. 5 after losing quarterback Jordan Travis for the season.
The Huskies beat then-No. 11 Oregon State 22-20 on Saturday, after wins over then-No. 18 Utah and then-No. 20 USC. Although Utah and USC are no longer ranked, Washington is now No. 1 in the ESPN strength of record metric. Florida State is No. 4 in that same metric.
The Seminoles played FCS North Alabama this past weekend, overcoming an early 13-0 deficit to win 58-13. But the score and result hardly mattered after losing Travis to a lower-leg injury — and how the committee views that injury will be a source of intrigue in the weeks to come.
“It really was about Washington and what Washington did this weekend,” CFP selection committee chair Boo Corrigan said on ESPN, later adding that the Travis injury did not have any impact on the committee’s decision this week.
“That’s what the next couple of weeks are going to be about,” he said. “The key is not projecting what it will be the following week.”
Florida State plays at rival Florida on Saturday with Tate Rodemaker as its starting quarterback and then has the ACC championship game against No. 10 Louisville on Dec. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“After the [conference] championship games, we can look at who’s going to be available and who’s not going to be available,” Corrigan said.
On Monday, coach Mike Norvell told ESPN he was not worried about what the committee would do this week with its ranking.
“I didn’t care three, four weeks ago what our ranking was, I sure don’t care what our ranking’s going to be this week,” Norvell said. “We’ve done things necessary to show who we are, and we get an opportunity to show how we respond to adversity, to an unfortunate situation, but this is one heck of a football team. I can promise you our guys are going to work as hard we possibly can to get better.
“We get to go on the road, big rivalry game, big week for us, and the next week we get a chance to play in a conference championship. I know that if we go and show all that we are, the ranking in the end that truly matters, we’ll put ourselves in position to achieve all the things that we ultimately desire.”
There is sure to be more shifting next week with a showdown between rivals Ohio State and Michigan looming Saturday. One of those teams will end up with a loss and no chance to play for a Big Ten championship. The question for Florida State is whether an undefeated season — with Travis on the sideline — will still be enough to make a four-team playoff.
The three one-loss teams behind Florida State in the top 10 remain unchanged: Oregon at No. 6, Texas at No. 7 and Alabama at No. 8. All three have huge games looming as well. The Ducks have Oregon State, which dropped to No. 16, while Texas has Texas Tech on Friday with a chance to clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game. Alabama has rival Auburn and then the SEC championship game against Georgia.
Tulane remains the highest-ranked Group of 5 team at No. 23, although Liberty joined the rankings this week at No. 25. Also joining the rankings this week are two schools familiar to Florida State: NC State at No. 22 and Clemson at No. 24.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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