Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama Lead CFP Rankings
The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee has released its second rankings for the 2025 season, with Ohio State maintaining its position at the top. Indiana follows closely, ranked second, with Texas A&M in third place. Alabama and Georgia complete the top five.
Current Rankings Overview
- 1. Ohio State
- 2. Indiana
- 3. Texas A&M
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Georgia
The rankings also highlight Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, and BYU, as they round out the top twelve teams. South Florida, currently ranked 24th, is the highest-rated Group of Five champion and would occupy the 12th seed. Miami is projected to replace Oklahoma as the ACC champion, should the rankings determine the playoff bracket.
First-Round Matchups
If the current rankings were applied, the first-round matchups would be as follows:
- South Florida at Georgia
- Miami at Texas Tech
- Texas at Ole Miss
- Notre Dame at Oregon
Conference Representation
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads with six teams in the top 12, while the Big Ten has three and the Big 12 features two. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) includes five teams in the top 25, though none surpasses 15th in rank. Notably, South Florida stands out as the sole representative from a Group of Five conference in the top 25.
Key Performances and Challenges
Indiana earned its second-place ranking after a thrilling comeback win against Penn State, thanks to a decisive touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr. The Nittany Lions are having a challenging season, having lost six consecutive games. They recently dismissed head coach James Franklin following these disappointing results.
Texas A&M, undefeated, continues to chase Indiana’s position after a robust victory against Missouri, winning 38-17. They previously secured a tight 41-40 win over Notre Dame earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s defensive prowess helped them secure a 29-7 victory against BYU, allowing them to leap ahead of Ole Miss in the rankings.
Rankings Discussion
CFP committee chair Mack Rhoades discussed the deliberations regarding Indiana’s and Texas A&M’s rankings, citing Indiana’s strong defensive and offensive performances as key factors. Despite their impressive outings, Texas Tech remains just outside the top four due to missed scoring opportunities.
Upcoming Playoff Schedule
The first-round playoff games are set to take place at the home fields of the higher-seeded teams on December 19 and 20. Following these, the quarterfinals will occur at notable bowl games including:
- Cotton Bowl Classic
- Capital One Orange Bowl
- Rose Bowl Game
- Allstate Sugar Bowl
These pivotal matches will happen on December 31 and January 1. The semifinal rounds are scheduled for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 8 and 9, with the CFP National Championship taking place on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
