Georgia Secures No. 4 Spot, Oklahoma Climbs in College Football Playoff Rankings

The third edition of the College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings just dropped, and, well, there are some real shakeups in the top 25. With only three weeks to go before the final CFP bracket is set, the top 10 looks very different from last time.

Ohio State is still undefeated and hanging onto that No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, Alabama’s recent stumble against Oklahoma has sent ripples through the rankings.

Georgia’s jumped up and now sits in a first-round bye position. Let’s dig into what all this means for the playoff picture, the big matchups ahead, and just how wild things could get as the season wraps up.

Ohio State and Indiana Lead the Pack

Ohio State keeps dominating, holding tight at No. 1 with a spotless 10-0 record. The Buckeyes are chasing their seventh playoff appearance since the CFP started—pretty impressive, honestly.

Indiana is right there too, undefeated at 11-0 and projected to face Ohio State in the Big Ten title game. They’ve got a late off week before Purdue, so all eyes are on that clash in Indianapolis.

Ohio State’s Path to the Playoff

Ohio State’s last regular season game is against Michigan. That’s always a big deal, but this year Michigan’s ranked, so there’s real risk for the Buckeyes.

Historically, most teams ranked No. 1 in the first CFP Rankings make it to the playoff, and the expanded 12-team field helps their chances. Ohio State’s schedule and steady play have them in a strong spot once again.

SEC Shakeup: Georgia and Alabama’s Changing Fortunes

Georgia’s moved into a first-round bye spot after rolling over Texas 35-10. Alabama, though, lost a heartbreaker at home to Oklahoma, dropping them from No. 4 to No. 10.

Oklahoma’s now up to No. 8, and the whole SEC feels a bit more unpredictable than usual. The volatility’s kind of exciting, isn’t it?

Georgia’s Playoff Prospects

Georgia’s closing run has been strong, with wins over Florida, Mississippi State, Texas, Charlotte, and Georgia Tech. If they keep it up, a top-four spot—and that valuable first-round bye—looks likely.

Alabama’s Road Ahead

Alabama’s not out of it yet, even after that slip-up. If they fix their mistakes, they should get past their Iron Bowl rival.

A win over Texas A&M in the SEC title game could bump them to the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, depending on what the committee’s feeling that week.

Big 12 and Pac-12 Contenders

Texas A&M and Texas Tech round out the top five, both with eyes on the playoff. Texas A&M is still undefeated at 10-0, while Texas Tech sits at 10-1.

The Big 12 Championship might end up deciding which team snags a top-four spot. It’s going to be tense, that’s for sure.

Oregon’s Position in the Pac-12

Oregon is at No. 7 with just one loss. If they take down USC this weekend, they’re probably in.

But if they lose, things get messy fast—other teams could easily jump ahead in the rankings.

ACC and Group of Five Teams

Miami (FL) is sitting at No. 13 but actually holds the 11th projected bid as the ACC’s highest-rated team. They’re not likely to play for the ACC title, so they’ll need an at-large spot.

Tulane is projected to grab the last of the 12 playoff spots as the top Group of Five team, with a shot to win the American Conference.

Miami’s Playoff Hopes

Miami’s climb has made things tough for Notre Dame. The Hurricanes need some help as an at-large candidate and will be watching what Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Alabama do down the stretch.

If Miami finishes strong, they could sneak into the playoff. Stranger things have happened.

Tulane’s Path to the Playoff

With the new 12-team format, the five highest-ranked conference champs get automatic bids. Tulane’s in line for that last spot right now.

If no Group of Five team makes the cut, the CFP Selection Committee picks which champ gets in. It’s a bit of a wild card, honestly.

Potential Playoff Scenarios

There’s a real chance we see Texas A&M win the SEC at 13-0, bumping Alabama down and giving an 11-win Georgia team a shot at the No. 4 seed.

If Alabama beats Texas A&M in the title game, they could land at No. 2 or No. 3, and then it’s a scramble for the last spot between the Aggies, Texas Tech, or maybe Georgia.

Chaos in the Big Ten

If Michigan somehow knocks off Ohio State, the Big Ten could end up with three 10-2 teams behind the Buckeyes and Hoosiers. That’d put the committee in a tough spot—who gets in?

Oregon might be left out, depending on how the chips fall. It’s going to be a wild finish, no doubt.

The Role of Game Control and Strength of Schedule

Game control and strength of schedule matter a lot to the committee. Teams like Oregon, USC, and Michigan are going to be judged pretty closely on these things.

If they finish the season with similar records, these details could make all the difference. A strong finish and some big wins are basically non-negotiable for a playoff spot.

We’re getting down to the wire now as the College Football Playoff race really starts to heat up. There are still some wild matchups left, and honestly, a few upsets wouldn’t surprise anyone at this point.

The rankings? Expect them to get a shake-up before it’s all said and done.

For a closer look at the latest CFP rankings and what could happen next, check out the full article on CBS Sports.