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College Football Playoff Rankings 2020, Week 13: 3 biggest surprises

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) reacts at the end of the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) reacts at the end of the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2020; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats tight end Charlie Mangieri (89) celebrates his touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats tight end Charlie Mangieri (89) celebrates his touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Northwestern Wildcats (No. 8)

Pat Fitzgerald has done a fantastic job with Northwestern this season which comes as a shock because the Wildcats went just 3-9 a year ago.

Through five games, the Wildcats are 5-0 and have wins over teams like Maryland (by 40), Iowa and Wisconsin. They don’t have the best wins outside of a Wisconsin victory, but two over teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff Top 25 is apparently good enough to place them in the top 10.

Northwestern began the season unranked and it took a few weeks for the Wildcats to crack the AP Top 25 but they have skyrocketed in recent weeks. Going from unranked to No. 8 in the playoff rankings with just one win over an AP Top 25 team seems wild.

I get the love, though. This team is playing well on both sides of the ball and it looks like last season was an outlier for Fitzgerald, but I’m not convinced this is the No. 8 team in the nation.

The playoff committee thinks otherwise.

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