Ohio State Tops CFP Rankings, Indiana and Texas A&M Follow
The first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings for the 2025 season are out. As usual, there’s a mix of surprises and some things that feel inevitable.
This first release really sets the tone for what could be a wild race to the championship. Four unbeaten teams are fighting for those top spots, but don’t count out the one-loss squads either—they’re making things interesting.
Let’s get into the main takeaways from these rankings.
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Top Contenders: Big Ten Dominance
The Big Ten is flexing in the first CFP rankings. Ohio State and Indiana have grabbed the top two spots.
Ohio State, last year’s champ, sits at No. 1. Indiana, also undefeated, is right behind them at No. 2.
This gives the Big Ten a real shot at sending both teams to the conference championship without a loss. That’d be something.
Ohio State’s Strong Case
Ohio State’s 8-0 record says it all. They’ve been steady and handled a tough schedule—no wonder they’re on top again.
Indiana’s Rise
Indiana’s 9-0 run is turning heads. Being No. 2 shows just how tough the Big Ten is this year.
SEC Powerhouses: Texas A&M and Alabama
The SEC’s still doing what the SEC does. Texas A&M is 8-0 and ranked No. 3, while Alabama sits at No. 4, even after dropping their opener to Florida State.
Georgia and Mississippi are lurking, too. No shortage of talent down south.
Texas A&M’s Undefeated Run
Texas A&M hasn’t lost yet, and it shows in the rankings. They’re in a great spot for a playoff push.
Alabama’s Resilience
Alabama lost early but bounced back. At 7-1, they’re still right in the thick of it.
Big 12 and ACC Representation
The Big 12 and ACC aren’t left out. Brigham Young leads the Big 12 at No. 7, with Texas Tech not far behind.
For the ACC, Virginia is holding it down at No. 14.
Brigham Young’s Leadership
Brigham Young’s unbeaten record has put them atop the Big 12. They’ve earned their top-10 spot for sure.
Virginia’s Standout Season
Virginia’s 8-1 mark makes them the ACC’s best hope. They’ve been sharp, and honestly, they could make some noise as things heat up.
Notre Dame’s Comeback
One of the more interesting stories? Notre Dame clawing their way back. They stumbled early against Miami and Texas A&M, but now they’ve rattled off six straight wins, including a big one over Southern California.
That’s good enough for No. 10 in the rankings.
Early Setbacks and Strong Finish
Notre Dame didn’t let those early losses define them. Six wins in a row says a lot about their fight.
Key Victories
Beating ranked teams like Southern California has kept their playoff hopes alive. They’ll need to keep that streak going.
Group of Five Teams
The Group of Five conferences are still looking for a breakthrough. None cracked the top 25, but Memphis is the top team from that bunch.
Whoever is the highest-ranked Group of Five champ gets a playoff spot, so there’s plenty on the line.
Memphis Leading the Pack
Memphis has been the best of the Group of Five so far. If they keep it up, they could sneak into the playoff field.
New Playoff Seeding Process
This is the second year with a 12-team playoff. The seeding’s changed a bit—no more first-round byes for four conference champs.
Now, the committee’s rankings decide spots, but the top five conference champs are guaranteed a place.
First-Round Matchups
- No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia
- No. 11 Virginia at No. 6 Mississippi
- No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Brigham Young
- No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Texas Tech
Winners move on to the quarterfinals. The Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl host those games on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
Then it’s the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl for the semifinals on Jan. 8 and 9. Should be a wild ride.
Championship Game
The championship game is set for Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida. It’ll take place at Hard Rock Stadium.
This matchup will decide the national champion. The playoff season has been wild, and all eyes are on this final showdown.
If you want a deeper look at the rankings and matchups, check out the USA Today article.
