The College Football Playoff 2025-26 features an expanded 12-team format with four teams receiving first-round byes, creating a highly competitive postseason tournament.
Based on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s third rankings released on November 18, 2025, here is the current bracket projection heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Current CFP Top 25 Rankings (November 18, 2025)
This guide gives you the College Football Playoff top-25 as released by the CFP selection committee, a projected 12-team bracket based on the latest rankings, first-round matchups, and detailed analysis of who’s most likely to earn byes, which teams are on the bubble, and the scenarios that could flip the bracket before Selection Day.
Rankings and bracket projection below are current as of the committee’s Nov. 18, 2025 release.
Top 12 Seeds (CFP Bracket Teams)
| Seed | Team | Record | Conference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 10-0 | Big Ten | Bye |
| 2 | Indiana Hoosiers | 11-0 | Big Ten | Bye |
| 3 | Texas A&M Aggies | 10-0 | SEC | Bye |
| 4 | Georgia Bulldogs | 9-1 | SEC | Bye |
| 5 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | 10-1 | Big 12 | First Round |
| 6 | Ole Miss Rebels | 10-1 | SEC | First Round |
| 7 | Oregon Ducks | 9-1 | Big Ten | First Round |
| 8 | Oklahoma Sooners | 8-2 | SEC | First Round |
| 9 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 8-2 | Independent | First Round |
| 10 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 8-2 | SEC | First Round |
| 11 | BYU Cougars | 9-1 | Big 12 | First Round |
| 12 | Utah Utes | 8-2 | Big 12 | First Round |
First Team Out: BYU Cougars (9-1)
Full Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | Team | Record | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Miami Hurricanes | 8-2 | ACC |
| 14 | Vanderbilt Commodores | 8-2 | SEC |
| 15 | USC Trojans | 8-2 | Pac-12 |
| 16 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | 9-1 | ACC |
| 17 | Texas Longhorns | 7-3 | SEC |
| 18 | Michigan Wolverines | 8-2 | Big Ten |
| 19 | Virginia Cavaliers | 9-2 | ACC |
| 20 | Tennessee Volunteers | 7-3 | SEC |
| 21 | Illinois Fighting Illini | 7-3 | Big Ten |
| 22 | Missouri Tigers | 7-3 | SEC |
| 23 | Houston Cougars | 8-2 | Big 12 |
| 24 | Tulane Green Wave | 8-2 | American |
| 25 | Arizona State Sun Devils | 7-3 | Big 12 |
How does the 12-team playoff work?
The CFP uses a 12-team format: the top four teams receive first-round byes. Seeds 5–12 play in first-round games hosted by the higher seed, and the winners advance to quarterfinals (which are played as bowl games).
The committee also reserves automatic berths for the five highest-ranked conference champions — which can shift seeding and force “bump” scenarios for at-large teams. The 2026 National Championship is scheduled for January 19, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium.
College Football Playoff 2025-26 Bracket
First-Round Byes (Seeds 1-4)
The four highest-ranked teams receive first-round byes and will await their quarterfinal opponents:
- No. 1 Ohio State (10-0)
- No. 2 Indiana (11-0)
- No. 3 Texas A&M (10-0)
- No. 4 Georgia (9-1)
First-Round Matchups (Campus Sites)
The first-round games feature seeds 5-12 competing at higher seeds’ campuses:
Matchup 1: No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech
- Winner advances to quarterfinal vs. No. 4 Georgia
- Texas Tech is 10-1 with dominant performances
- Tulane earned the 5th highest-ranked conference champion bid after 35-24 win vs. FAU
Matchup 2: No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
- Winner advances to quarterfinal vs. No. 1 Ohio State
- Oklahoma has momentum after 23-21 victory over No. 10 Alabama
- Notre Dame is 8-2 with strong recent performances
Matchup 3: No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Ole Miss
- Winner advances to quarterfinal vs. No. 3 Texas A&M
- Miami jumped two spots to No. 13 overall after 41-7 win over NC State
- Ole Miss is 10-1 and seeking conference championship
Matchup 4: No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Oregon
- Winner advances to quarterfinal vs. No. 2 Indiana
- Alabama dropped from contention after a loss to Oklahoma
- Oregon is 9-1 and seeking the Big Ten championship
Quarterfinal Matchups (Playoff Bowls)
The quarterfinals are scheduled for December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, at historic bowl venues with no re-seeding:
| Quarterfinal | Matchup | Bowl | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal 1 | Tulane/Texas Tech winner vs. No. 4 Georgia | Sugar Bowl | TBD |
| Quarterfinal 2 | Notre Dame/Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State | Orange Bowl | TBD |
| Quarterfinal 3 | Miami/Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M | Cotton Bowl | TBD |
| Quarterfinal 4 | Alabama/Oregon winner vs. No. 2 Indiana | Rose Bowl | TBD |
The four highest-ranked teams will be assigned to these bowls in consideration of historic bowl relationships and seeding.
Key Team Analysis and Narratives
Ohio State Buckeyes (Seed 1)
Record: 10-0 | Conference: Big Ten | Head Coach: Ryan Day
Ohio State remains undefeated and at the top of the committee rankings after convincing victories throughout the season. The Buckeyes’ path to a first-round bye positions them favorably for a deep playoff run. Ohio State has been dominant, particularly on defense, limiting opponents’ scoring potential.
- Upcoming Schedule: Rutgers, at Michigan
- Strength: Undefeated resume with power conference wins
- Playoff Odds: +190 (favorite)
Indiana Hoosiers (Seed 2)
Record: 11-0 | Conference: Big Ten | Head Coach: Curt Cignetti
Indiana’s incredible undefeated run under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti has been turning heads nationwide. The Hoosiers kept the streak alive with a win over Wisconsin this week, and now their only game left is at Purdue—a matchup that could seal the Big Ten Conference Championship.
- Upcoming Schedule: at Purdue
- Strength: Undefeated season; strong defensive identity
- Playoff Odds: +500
Texas A&M Aggies (Seed 3)
Record: 10-0 | Conference: SEC | Head Coach: Mike Elko
Texas A&M pulled off one of the season’s best comeback wins against South Carolina, demonstrating resilience and championship pedigree. Head Coach Mike Elko recently secured a lucrative long-term deal after engineering this impressive turnaround. A win at Texas would likely clinch the SEC West and secure an SEC Championship Game appearance.
- Upcoming Schedule: Samford, at Texas
- Strength: Comeback ability; SEC West leadership
- Playoff Odds: +750
Georgia Bulldogs (Seed 4)
Record: 9-1 | Conference: SEC | Head Coach: Kirby Smart
Georgia cruised past Texas to strengthen their College Football Playoff case. Aside from a single loss to Alabama, the Bulldogs look poised for a postseason run. They’ve wrapped up regular-season SEC play but would drop a potential SEC Championship tiebreaker to Alabama.
- Upcoming Schedule: Charlotte, at Georgia Tech
- Strength: Elite power conference wins; limited losses
- Playoff Odds: +1000
Other First-Round Contenders
Texas Tech (Seed 5): The 10-1 Red Raiders put on dominant performances, including a convincing win against UCF. Joey McGuire has positioned Texas Tech not only for a playoff spot but potentially a first-round bye.
Ole Miss (Seed 6): The 10-1 Rebels remain in contention with strong victories. Ole Miss represents the SEC’s depth as a potential first-round opponent.
Oklahoma (Seed 8): Oklahoma’s massive 23-21 road victory over No. 10 Alabama vaulted the Sooners three spots in the rankings, firmly establishing them in the 12-team field. Brent Venables’ group has significantly improved their CFP resume.
Notre Dame (Seed 9): Notre Dame continues a strong run through the back of the regular season after two early losses to ranked teams. Marcus Freeman’s squad dominated Pittsburgh on College GameDay.
Conference Representation
SEC Dominance
The SEC leads with nine ranked teams in the top 25, demonstrating the conference’s competitive depth:
- Ohio State (Big Ten – 1 ranking)
- Indiana (Big Ten – 1 ranking)
- Texas A&M (SEC)
- Georgia (SEC)
- Ole Miss (SEC)
- Oklahoma (SEC)
- Alabama (SEC)
- BYU (Big 12)
- Utah (Big 12)
Conference Breakdown in the CFP Field
| Conference | Seeds in Top 12 |
|---|---|
| SEC | 5 teams (Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Alabama) |
| Big Ten | 4 teams (Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, Notre Dame Independent) |
| Big 12 | 2 teams (Texas Tech, BYU, Utah) |
| American | 1 team (Tulane) |
| Independent | 1 team (Notre Dame) |
Selection Committee Insights
Committee Methodology
The CFP Selection Committee evaluates teams using several key criteria
- Strength of Schedule – Quality of wins and losses
- Head-to-Head Results – Direct matchups between ranked teams
- Conference Championships – Five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids
- Playoff Results – Future performance affects seeding
Notable Committee Decisions
Miami vs Notre Dame Controversy: Miami (8-2) and Notre Dame (8-2) have identical records, but Notre Dame is ranked 9 spots higher at No. 9. The committee’s reasoning emphasizes that while Miami beat Notre Dame 27-24 in their head-to-head matchup, Notre Dame lost close games to two ranked teams (Miami and Texas A&M), while Miami lost to two unranked teams (Louisville and SMU). This distinction has sparked debate in Miami and ACC circles.
Alabama’s Fall: Alabama dropped from playoff contention after losing to Oklahoma, falling from potential bye positioning to No. 10 overall.
Tulane’s Rise: Tulane improves to 5-1 in conference play and now represents the Group of Five as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion at No. 24.
Playoff Format Overview
12-Team Bracket Structure
The expanded playoff format features:
- Seeds 1-4: First-round byes (highest-ranked teams)
- Seeds 5-12: First-round games at higher seeds’ campuses
- Quarterfinals: December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026 at historic bowls
- Semifinals: January 10, 2026 (College Football Playoff Semifinals)
- National Championship: January 20, 2026
Automatic Qualification Rule
The five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the 12-team field, even if ranked lower than some at-large teams. This ensures conference champions earn playoff berths based on merit.
National Championship Contenders
Pre-Playoff Favorites (By Odds)
- Ohio State (+190) – Undefeated with bye
- Indiana (+500) – Undefeated potential underdog story
- Texas A&M (+750) – SEC power with momentum
- Notre Dame (+900) – Strong resume with playoff experience
- Georgia (+1000) – Elite SEC team seeking redemption
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 25, 2025 | Fourth CFP Rankings Release |
| December 2, 2025 | Fifth CFP Rankings Release |
| December 7, 2025 | Final CFP Rankings & Official 12-Team Bracket |
| December 20-21, 2025 | First-Round Games (Campus Sites) |
| December 31-January 1 | Quarterfinal Games (Playoff Bowls) |
| January 10, 2026 | College Football Playoff Semifinals |
| January 20, 2026 | National Championship Game |
Notable Points
No Re-Seeding in Quarterfinals
Unlike some playoff formats, there is no re-seeding of the bracket after the first round. The original seeds remain intact regardless of first-round results, meaning the winner of Texas Tech-Tulane plays No. 4 Georgia, not a re-seeded opponent.
Conference Championship Implications
Several critical conference championship games remain, with major playoff seeding implications:
- Big Ten Championship: Ohio State vs winner of Michigan/other potential challengers
- SEC Championship: Potential Texas A&M vs. Georgia rematch or other SEC matchups
- Big 12 Championship: Texas Tech and BYU compete for the championship and seeding