2025-26 College Football Playoff Predictions and Rankings Analysis

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has turned into quite a spectacle—especially now that it’s expanded to 12 teams. This season’s shaping up to be even wilder, if you ask me, with the current CFP picture looking unpredictable as ever.

Teams like Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Georgia are leading the charge. Fans are in for some intense competition and, probably, a few moments that’ll stick in our memories for years.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff predictions, plus the key dates you’ll want to circle on your calendar. There’s a lot to keep track of, honestly.

Current College Football Playoff Rankings and Betting Odds

Right now, here are the teams with the best college football betting odds to win the CFP and national championship (BetMGM has the numbers):

• Ohio State: +185
• Indiana: +500
• Texas A&M: +700
• Notre Dame: +900
• Georgia: +1000
• Oregon: +1100
• Texas Tech: +1400
• Alabama: +1500
• Ole Miss: +2000
• Oklahoma: +2500

Ohio State’s got the top odds, but college football’s nothing if not unpredictable. These numbers could flip fast.

Predictions for the Top Four Teams

Based on how things look right now, plus those odds, here’s who’s expected to make the CFP’s top four by season’s end:

• Ohio State
• Indiana
• Texas A&M
• Georgia

Ohio State’s track record speaks for itself—they’re the team to beat. Indiana’s been a surprise, honestly, thanks mainly to quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s breakout season.

Texas A&M and Georgia are rounding out the top four. Both teams have looked sharp, and you can’t really count them out at this point.

The Wild Card: Tulane

Now, here’s something interesting—the Group of Five conference champ ranked highest is projected to be Tulane. The Green Wave have had a heck of a season.

Most folks think the CFP Selection Committee will slot them at No. 12. That could shake things up in a big way.

Other Teams in the Mix

Beyond those top four, a handful of other teams are still very much in the playoff picture:

• Georgia
• Oregon
• Notre Dame
• Texas Tech
• Miami
• Oklahoma
• Ole Miss

Oregon stands out, mostly because quarterback Dante Moore has been electric. Some experts are even whispering that they could go all the way.

Notre Dame, Texas Tech, and Miami are all strong in their own ways. Each brings something a little different to the table, which keeps things interesting.

Key Dates for the College Football Playoff

Here are the dates you’ll want to remember for the CFP Selection Committee’s rankings announcements:

• Tuesday, Nov. 11: 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Tuesday, Nov. 18: 8:30-9 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Tuesday, Nov. 25: 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Tuesday, Dec. 2: 7-7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Sunday, Dec. 7: Noon-3 p.m. ET on ESPN

The last College Football Playoff Selection Show is set for noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 7, on ESPN. That’s when we’ll finally get the official rankings and matchups.

Understanding the College Football Playoff Format

The CFP format’s a bit of a beast. There are 12 teams: the five highest-ranked FBS conference champs, plus the seven highest-ranked teams that didn’t win their conference.

The top four teams get a bye in the first round. The rest play in, and the higher seeds host those games.

First Round Matchups

First round games happen Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20. Here’s what the matchups will look like:

• No. 12-seeded team at No. 5-seeded team
• No. 9 team at No. 8 team
• No. 11 team at No. 6 team
• No. 10 team at No. 7 team

Whoever wins those games moves on to the quarterfinals. Those are set for Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1.

Quarterfinals and Semifinals

Quarterfinal matchups will be:

• Winner of the 5/12 matchup vs. No. 4-seeded team
• Winner of the 8/9 matchup vs. No. 1-seeded team
• Winner of the 6/11 matchup vs. No. 3-seeded team
• Winner of the 7/10 matchup vs. No. 2-seeded team

Semifinals are on Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9. The winners from the No. 1 and No. 4 sides will face off in one semifinal, while the No. 2 and No. 3 sides clash in the other.

The National Championship

The winners of the two semifinal contests will meet in the national championship. That game lands on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

This matchup crowns the ultimate champion of college football for the 2025-26 season. There’s always a buzz around the big game—who’s not curious about which team will come out on top?

For more predictions and updates on the College Football Playoff, check out Hero Sports. They’ve got you covered if you want to dig deeper.