Washington State checks in at No. 18 in final College Football Playoff rankings

Washington State finished No. 18 in the last edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, released Sunday afternoon, and the Cougars will now wait to learn where they’ll head for their bowl game.

The bowl announcement will come after noon and WSU interim athletic director John Johnson is expected to speak with media members on a conference call at 1:30 p.m. regarding the Cougars’ destination.

Because the Washington Huskies finished No. 11 in the CFP rankings, thus securing a bid to a New Year’s Six Bowl, WSU (9-3) could’ve potentially landed in the Alamo Bowl (Dec. 28 in San Antonio), though college football insider Brett McMurphy reports that the game will pit Stanford against TCU. The Cardinal (9-4), No. 13 in the CFP rankings, sport one more loss than the Cougars, but appeared in the Pac-12 championship game.

The Cougars could make a repeat appearance in the Dec. 28 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, or they could make their debut in the Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium.

USC moved up two spots to No. 8 in the CFP rankings and will return to a New Year’s Six Bowl – most likely the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix.

In the Associated Press top 25 rankings, USC moved up three spots to No. 8, UW moved up one spot to No. 12, Stanford dropped one place to No. 15 and WSU stayed put at No. 21.