Three American Athletic Conference teams remain ranked in the College Football Playoff top 25 in the penultimate rankings of the 2022 season.

Tulane, which improved to 9-2 with a 59-24 win against SMU last Thursday, is ranked No. 19 in this week's rankings, while UCF checks in at No. 22 and Cincinnati is No. 24.

The rankings gave some clarity to a tight race for the American Athletic Conference Championship Game picture entering the final week of conference play.

The winner of Friday's game between Tulane and Cincinnati will host the championship game.

UCF would be the visiting team in the championship game if the Knights defeat South Florida in the War on I-4 Saturday night. 

If South Florida defeats UCF, then the following possibilities exist:

• if Cinicnnati beats Tulane, then Tulane would play at Cincinnati in the champioship game
• if Tulane beats Cincinnati and Tulsa beats Houston, Cincinnati would play at Tulane in the championship game
• if Tulane beats Cincinnati and Houston beats Tulsa, then the higher-ranked of Cincinnati and Houston in an average of four computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Billingsley, Colley, Wolfe) released Sunday would play at Tulane in the championship game.