College Football Playoff Rankings: Full Schedule and Key Release Dates

The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are a huge deal every college football season. They set the tone for the postseason and decide which teams get a real shot at the national title.

For the 2025-26 season, the CFP committee has already dropped several rankings. The latest came out on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Below, you’ll find the current rankings, the schedule for what’s next, and a bit of history on how all this started. If you want the official word, the NCAA website is always worth a look.

Current CFP Rankings: November 25, 2025

The fourth CFP rankings for 2025 are here, and there are a few shake-ups along with some familiar faces at the top. Here’s how the top 25 stack up as of November 25:

• 1. Ohio State (11-0, Previous Rank: 1)
• 2. Indiana (11-0, Previous Rank: 2)
• 3. Texas A&M (11-0, Previous Rank: 3)
• 4. Georgia (10-1, Previous Rank: 4)
• 5. Texas Tech (10-1, Previous Rank: 5)
• 6. Oregon (10-1, Previous Rank: 7)
• 7. Ole Miss (10-1, Previous Rank: 6)
• 8. Oklahoma (9-2, Previous Rank: 8)
• 9. Notre Dame (9-2, Previous Rank: 9)
• 10. Alabama (9-2, Previous Rank: 10)
• 11. BYU (10-1, Previous Rank: 11)
• 12. Miami (Fla.) (9-2, Previous Rank: 13)
• 13. Utah (9-2, Previous Rank: 12)
• 14. Vanderbilt (9-2, Previous Rank: 14)
• 15. Michigan (9-2, Previous Rank: 18)
• 16. Texas (8-3, Previous Rank: 17)
• 17. USC (8-3, Previous Rank: 15)
• 18. Virginia (9-2, Previous Rank: 19)
• 19. Tennessee (8-3, Previous Rank: 20)
• 20. Arizona State (8-3, Previous Rank: 25)
• 21. SMU (8-3, Not Ranked)
• 22. Pittsburgh (8-3, Not Ranked)
• 23. Georgia Tech (9-2, Previous Rank: 16)
• 24. Tulane (9-2, Previous Rank: 24)
• 25. Arizona (8-3, Not Ranked)

Upcoming CFP Rankings Announcements

The CFP rankings get updated every week as we head toward the end of the season. Here’s what’s next on the calendar:

December 2, 2025

The fifth set of rankings drops Tuesday, December 2, from 7-7:30 p.m. ET. This one’s big—teams are making their final playoff push.

Selection Day: December 7, 2025

The last and most important rankings come out Sunday, December 7, from 12-3 p.m. ET. Selection Day decides who’s in and who’s out for the College Football Playoff.

Historical Context of CFP Rankings

CFP rankings have been around since 2014. Mississippi State was the first team to ever land at No. 1.

Since then, schools like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State have spent plenty of time at the top. Here’s a quick rundown of some No. 1 teams through the years:

• 2014: Mississippi State, Alabama
• 2015: Clemson, Alabama
• 2016: Alabama
• 2017: Georgia, Alabama
• 2018: Alabama, Clemson
• 2019: LSU, Ohio State
• 2020: Alabama
• 2021: Georgia, Alabama
• 2022: Georgia
• 2023: Ohio State, LSU
• 2024: Oregon

Impact of CFP Rankings on the Playoff Picture

The CFP rankings don’t just pick the top four for the championship. They also shape who ends up in other major bowl games.

Bowls like the Rose, Sugar, Peach, and Fiesta often grab teams that just missed the top four. Sometimes, those games are honestly just as entertaining as the playoff itself.

Recent CFP Matchups and Results

There have been some wild games and upsets in recent years. Here are a few that stand out:

• 2024 Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan 27, No. 4 Alabama 20 (OT)
• 2024 Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington 37, No. 3 Texas 31
• 2024 CFP National Championship: No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13
• 2023 Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia 42, No. 4 Ohio State 41
• 2023 Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 TCU 51, No. 2 Michigan 45
• 2023 CFP National Championship: No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7

Looking Ahead: Predictions and Expectations

The final weeks of the 2025-26 season are almost here, and the fight for those top four spots is getting wild. Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M still haven’t lost a game—they’re looking pretty solid for the CFP right now.

But then you’ve got Georgia, Texas Tech, and Oregon lurking just behind. If any of them put together a statement win or two, who knows? Things could get messy fast.

The last rankings drop December 7, so everyone’s just waiting and speculating. Could someone crash the party at the last minute? Maybe a dark horse makes a run? I guess we’ll see. This playoff chase honestly feels like it could go off the rails in the best way.

If you want the latest updates or just want to double-check the numbers, the NCAA’s official page has you covered.