In the last polls before the College Football Playoff committee releases its first rankings of the season on Tuesday, the Wisconsin Badgers moved up one spot to No. 4 in both the Amway Coaches Poll and Associated Press Top 25.
After a 24–10 victory over Illinois, Wisconsin currently sits at 8–0 with a manageable path to the Big Ten championship. In both polls, Alabama and Georgia remain at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, while Ohio State jumped up to No. 3 after its 39–38 win over Penn State.
Four Big Ten teams remain in the coaches poll, but Michigan State dropped out after its triple-overtime loss to Northwestern:
- Ohio State (No.