College Football Playoff Committee: Key Insights for Ohio State Fans

The College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape is about to get wild as the committee gears up to drop its first 12-team playoff rankings for the 2025 season. Ohio State looks primed for that top seed, and fans are buzzing about the new format’s second year.

This piece takes a closer look at how the selection process works, who’s actually making these big decisions, and what fans might want to keep an eye on as the season heats up. If you want to geek out on the committee members or dig into their backgrounds, check out the Dispatch article.

The New 12-Team Playoff Format

The College Football Playoff got a major facelift with the 12-team format that kicked off in 2024. Now, five conference champs and seven at-large teams make the cut, so the playoff chase is way more intense.

How Teams are Selected

The selection committee puts teams under the microscope, weighing things like:

• Conference championships won
• Strength of schedule
• Head-to-head results
• Comparison of results against common opponents

For 2025, the top four seeds will be the highest-ranked teams in the final top-25, no matter if they’re conference champs or not. That’s a change from last year.

Committee Members and Their Roles

The CFP selection committee is packed with folks who’ve lived and breathed college football for years. Usually, you’ll find current or former athletic directors, coaches, ex-players, or even some media pros in the mix.

Here’s who’s on the 2025 committee:

Notable Committee Members

• Chris Ault: Former head coach and athletic director at the University of Nevada
• Chet Gladchuk: Athletics director at the U.S. Naval Academy
• Jim Grobe: Former head coach at Ohio University, Wake Forest, and Baylor
• Warde Manuel: Chair, Athletics director at the University of Michigan
• Randall McDaniel: College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former All-American offensive lineman, Arizona State University
• Gary Pinkel: Former head coach at the University of Toledo and University of Missouri
• Mack Rhoades: Athletics director at Baylor University
• Mike Riley: Former college head coach at Oregon State and Nebraska, as well as head coach in the NFL, CFL, WLAF, AAF, and USFL
• David Sayler: Athletics director at Miami University, OH
• Will Shields: College and Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former All-American offensive lineman, University of Nebraska
• Kelly Whiteside: Professor in Sports Media and Journalism, Montclair State University; longtime sportswriter, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and Newsday
• Carla Williams: Athletics director at the University of Virginia
• Hunter Yurachek: Athletics director at the University of Arkansas

Ohio State’s Promising Season

Ohio State is rolling with an 8-0 record in 2025 after a dominant 38-14 win over Penn State on November 1. The Buckeyes are widely expected to snag the top spot in the first committee rankings, which honestly feels well-deserved.

First Round Matchups

If Ohio State lands that No. 1 ranking, they’ll get a first-round bye. After that, they’ll square off against whoever survives the No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup.

Right now, NCAA.com projects Texas Tech at No. 8 and Oregon at No. 9. That could change, but it’s a fun matchup to imagine.

Key Dates and How to Watch

The first playoff rankings for 2025 drop at 8 p.m. on November 4. The full 12-team playoff field gets announced on December 7.

Broadcast and Streaming Options

You can catch the College Football Playoff rankings show on ESPN. If you prefer streaming, the ESPN app (with a TV login) or Fubo—offering a free trial and all the ESPN channels—are both solid bets.

Here’s a quick look at the big dates for the playoff games:

• First round (Dec. 19-20) — on campuses
  • Friday, Dec. 19: One game
  • Saturday, Dec. 20: Three games
• Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 31: Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
  • Thursday, Jan. 1: Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida), 12 p.m., ESPN
  • Thursday, Jan. 1: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California), 4 p.m., ESPN
  • Thursday, Jan. 1: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana), 8 p.m., ESPN
• Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)
  • Thursday, Jan. 8: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
  • Friday, Jan. 9: Peach Bowl (Atlanta), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
• CFP national championship: Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Conclusion

The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be a wild ride. There’s a new 12-team format, which honestly should make things a bit more unpredictable.

Ohio State looks ready to grab that top seed, but you never really know until the games play out. The first rankings drop on November 4, so that’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

If you’re a fan, now’s the time to start circling playoff dates on your calendar. It’s going to be a season worth following, no question.