Mississippi State Debuts at No. 16 in CFB Playoff Poll, Alabama at No. 2 behind No. 1 Georgia

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – For the first time since the 2015 season, Mississippi State football is back in the College Football Playoff rankings as the Bulldogs debuted at No. 16 in the first edition released by the committee on Tuesday night.

State (6-2, 3-2 SEC) is the fourth-highest ranked Southeastern Conference team behind only No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama and No. 14 Auburn – all three of which are MSU opponents this season.

It’s the first time the Bulldogs have appeared in the poll since Nov. 22, 2015. It’s also MSU’s highest playoff ranking since entering the 2014 Orange Bowl No. 7.

MSU has been ranked in 11 of the 20 College Football playoff rankings since the formula’s inception in 2014, including when it was ranked No. 1 in the debut poll.

The Bulldogs return to action in a non-conference matchup against UMass at 11 a.m. CT Saturday in Davis Wade Stadium. Tickets for the UMass contest are still available at HailState.com/tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

College Football Playoff Rankings (Oct. 31)
1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Notre Dame
4. Clemson
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. TCU
9. Wisconsin
10. Miami
11. Oklahoma State
12. Washington
13. Virginia Tech
14. Auburn
15. Iowa State
16. Mississippi State
17. USC
18. UCF
19. LSU
20. NC State
21. Stanford
22. Arizona
23. Memphis
24. Michigan State
25. Washington State