First College Football Playoff Rankings 2025: Dates, Times, How to Watch
In the exhilarating world of college football, the first Saturday of November 2025 kicked off the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings season. Fans everywhere are buzzing, waiting for those weekly updates and ready to argue about who really deserves a playoff spot.
This year, the CFP rankings come out every Tuesday, starting November 4. They’ll keep rolling in through Selection Sunday on December 7.
With four teams already looking like strong contenders, the excitement and speculation are off the charts. You can almost feel the tension building with every passing week.
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First College Football Playoff Rankings of 2025
The 2025 college football season is reaching its peak, and honestly, the CFP rankings feel more important than ever. The first set drops on Tuesday, November 4, sometime between 8 and 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN.
That first release always sets the tone. Teams start scrambling for position, hoping to grab one of those precious playoff spots.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and Playoff Predictor, four teams are practically shoo-ins for the CFP, each with at least a 90% chance:
- Indiana
- Texas A&M
- Ohio State
- Alabama
Georgia’s close behind with an 80% shot, and Oregon sits at 75%. The rest? Less than 70%—so every single game means a lot for those teams scrapping for a chance.
Subsequent CFP Rankings Release Dates
ESPN will keep feeding the hype, dropping new rankings each Tuesday night. Fans get to follow the drama week by week, and it’s honestly a rollercoaster.
- November 11 – 7 p.m. ET
- November 18 – 8:30 p.m. ET
- November 25 – 7 p.m. ET
- December 2 – 7 p.m. ET
The last CFP rankings will be revealed on Selection Sunday, December 7, at noon ET on ESPN. That’s when we finally find out who’s in and who’s out for the playoff battle.
The Selection Committee
It all comes down to the 12-member College Football Playoff selection committee. These folks have seen a lot of football, and they’re supposed to weigh every detail, every win and loss.
Here’s the lineup for 2025:
- Chris Ault
- Troy Dannen
- Mark Dantonio
- Jeff Long
- Ivan Maisel
- Chris Massaro
- Mack Rhoades
- Mike Riley
- David Sayler
- Wesley Walls
- Carla Williams
- Hunter Yurachek
They’ll be meeting every week, hashing it out over which teams deserve to move up or down. You can bet their decisions will have everyone talking, maybe even yelling, on sports radio and online forums.
What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
The road to the playoffs? It’s never smooth. Every game can tip the scales for a team’s playoff hopes, so nothing’s really set in stone.
- Performance Matters: Teams have to keep winning if they want to stay in the mix.
- Strength of Schedule: Playing tough opponents definitely helps a team’s case.
- Injuries and Player Availability: One big injury can change everything for a contender.
- Head-to-Head Matchups: Beating another top team? That’s huge for rankings.
With every passing week, expect some wild games, a few upsets, and plenty of heated debates. It’s college football—anything can happen, and honestly, that’s why we love it.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football season is heading into its wildest stretch yet. The College Football Playoff rankings are almost here, and that always stirs up a frenzy.
Four teams look like safe bets for the playoffs, but plenty of others are clawing for a shot. The next few weeks? Expect drama, upsets, and maybe a little heartbreak. Fans know the committee’s choices will spark debate, and everyone’s glued to each Tuesday’s rankings drop.
If you want to dig deeper into the CFP rankings or how the committee works, check out the full article on USA Today’s For The Win. Keep an eye on ESPN for breaking news, and honestly—just enjoy the ride as the 2025 season wraps up. It’s going to be a wild finish.
