Clemson Tigers take top spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings heading into conference championship games

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the penultimate college football playoff rankings have been released.

The Clemson Tigers are in the top spot, followed by the Auburn Tigers fresh off of their Iron Bowl victory over Alabama.

Oklahoma and Wisconsin round out the top four while the Crimson Tide drop to fifth.

Defending champions in perfect position for a repeat

Following Alabama's 26-14 loss at Auburn, Clemson went out and took care of business, defeating in-state rival South Carolina 34-10 to claim the top spot.

Ryan Carter and the Tigers are poised to repeat as national champions/Photo: Jeff Blake/USA Today Sports

The Tigers now head for a showdown with the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday night. Auburn will play earlier in the day against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game.

Sooners, Badgers one win away from playing for national title

Oklahoma, 59-31 winners over West Virginia and Wisconsin, completing a perfect regular season with a 31-0 shutout of Minnesota also face conference title games in their quest to reach the college football playoff.

Baker Mayfield and the Sooners look to be on course for the College Football Playoffs/Photo: Mark D. Smith/USA Today Sports

The Sooners will meet the TCU Horned Frogs in the Big 12 Championship Game while the Badgers square off with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship Game.

Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State still in contention

Despite having no more games left to play, Alabama still has a chance to reach the final four should one or more of the teams ahead of them slip up.

For Georgia and Miami, the path is clearer. With the Bulldogs and Hurricanes playing the top two teams in the rankings, a win by one or both would see them vault ahead of Auburn and Clemson, respectively.

The Bulldogs control their own destiny heading into the SEC Championship Game on Saturday despite being ranked seventh/Photo: Brett Davis/USA Today Sports

For Ohio State, a win over Wisconsin is likely to get them in, but should the teams ahead of them also win, it is less of a clear-cut case to include the Buckeyes in the top four.