Pivotal weekend before College Football Playoff poll debuts

The initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season will be released Tuesday. The poll will be the first scheduled to be released over the next five Tuesdays, with the sixth and final rankings released Sunday, Dec. 7.

The playoff will include a dozen teams, with the top four teams earning a first-round bye. The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids, and the four highest-ranked teams, regardless of conference champion status, will receive the top four seeds in the playoffs.

Teams seeded No. 5-12 will play each other in the first round at the site of the higher-ranked team.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s schedules for the top 12 teams in the Associated Press poll:

— Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State (Noon ET, Saturday): Ohio State (7-0) is the clear top team in the country so far. Quarterback Julian Sayin has been extremely efficient, throwing 19 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Wide receiver Carnell Tate is considered one of the top prospects for the NFL draft, while teammate Caleb Downs is ranked as the top safety in the class. Until proven otherwise, the Buckeyes are the team to beat.

— No. 2 Indiana at Maryland (3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday): The Hoosiers (8-0) are the Cinderella story of the season. Head coach Curt Cignetti won 11 games at the school last year before losing to Notre Dame in the first round of the CFP. This season, the team is even better. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt has set records with a catch in 43 straight games and is the active receiving touchdowns leader in the country with 35.

— No. 3 Texas A&M (8-0): off

— No. 4 Alabama (7-1): off

— No. 5 Georgia at Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday): This week’s meeting in Jacksonville should not offer a speedbump for the Bulldogs (6-1), but there are a lot of unknowns. In the wake of Florida firing Billy Napier, how much different will the Gators’ offense look? Will it matter?

— No. 6 Oregon (7-1): off

— South Carolina at No. 7 Ole Miss (7 p.m. ET, Saturday): Ole Miss (7-1) rebounded last week after a loss to Georgia, toppling Oklahoma on the road. Rebels’ coach Lane Kiffin is among the names considered as top candidates to become the new coach at Florida.

— No. 8 Georgia Tech at NC State (7 p.m. ET, Saturday): If not for Indiana, Georgia Tech (8-0) would be the story of the year in college football. The Yellow Jackets have the inside track on a spot in the ACC championship game and should have no problem with the Wolfpack (4-4), but night games in the ACC often bring unexpected outcomes.

— No. 9 Vanderbilt at No. 20 Texas (Noon ET, Saturday): The Commodores’ (7-1) only loss came to Alabama, and they look to add a win over a ranked team on Saturday. Texas, the former No. 1 team in the country, has not looked the part. Losses to Ohio State and, more surprisingly, Florida, have marred the Longhorns’ résumé. A win for Vandy could be the difference between making the playoffs and missing out.

— No. 10 (tied) Miami at SMU (Noon ET, Saturday): SMU had won 20 straight conference games before falling at Wake Forest last week. The game is a bit of a reunion. SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee previously worked at Miami as offensive coordinator. Miami (6-1) is playing a game outside of the state of Florida for the first time this season.

— No. 10 (tied) BYU (8-0): off

— No. 12 Notre Dame at Boston College (3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday): Like Ole Miss, Notre Dame is dealing with rumors surrounding its head coach. Marcus Freeman is rumored as a candidate for the LSU job. This is a game that the Irish should be expected to dominate.