Ohio State did what it needed to do Saturday.

The Buckeyes dominated then-No. 7 Michigan State at home, 56-7, putting up 49 points and 500 yards in the first half alone without allowing one Spartans score.

And in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State was rewarded for it, moving up to No. 2 after then-No. 3 Oregon dropped to No. 11 after its loss to Utah.

Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Cincinnati round out the top-four in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

No. 2 Ohio State will take on No. 5 Michigan at noon Saturday.

Here's what the rest of the fourth edition of the College Football Playoff rankings look like.

1. Georgia

2. Ohio State

3. Alabama

4. Cincinnati

5. Michigan

6. Notre Dame

7. Oklahoma State

8. Baylor

9. Ole Miss

10. Oklahoma

11. Oregon

12. Michigan State

13. BYU

14. Wisconsin

15. Texas A&M

16. Iowa

17. Pittsburgh

18. Wake Forest

19. Utah

20. NC State

21. San Diego State

22. UTSA

23. Clemson

24. Houston

25. Arkansas

This is big for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes passed the eye test against then-No. 7 Michigan State Saturday, scoring at will against the Spartans defense while stopping a Heisman contender in running back Kenneth Walker III.

With that, Ohio State moved up right behind undefeated Georgia, doing enough to unseat Alabama at No. 2, a Crimson Tide team that narrowly got by Arkansas this past weekend.

If all goes as planned, Ohio State's path remains the same as it was when it was at No. 4 last week. But a move up to No. 4 brings the Buckeyes from the brink of a playoff spot to a legitimate national title contender.

Saturday, No. 2 Ohio State has a chance to increase that resume even more. with a battle against No. 5 Michigan for a spot in the Big Ten championship game.

According to Iowa Athletic Director and CFP Committee Chair Gary Barta, all Ohio State has done over the past few weeks is improve.

"Two great teams, both Ohio State and Alabama," Barta said to ESPN's Rece Davis Tuesday. "Both of them have Heisman trophy candidates at quarterback. Certainly this week, their dominating win against Michigan State got the committee's attention.

Barta spoke to Ohio State's commanding offense and the better play of the defense, calling Ohio State a team that's playing better each week.

About Alabama, Barta said that despite its impressive win against now-No. 9 Ole Miss, Alabama has not shown as much dominance on defense as of late.

Regarding Cincinnati, which moved up to No. 4, Barta said he feels "strongly" about the Bearcats at No. 4, while Notre Dame, a team Cincinnati beat earlier in the season, "continues to look better," moving up to No. 6.