Projected College Football Playoff Rankings: Top 25 Teams Before Fourth Reveal
The College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings are really starting to sizzle as we get close to the end of the season. This year’s race feels especially wild, with a bunch of teams from all over fighting for a shot at the playoff bracket.
Every single game seems to matter right now. The latest projections show a landscape where one upset could flip everything upside down. And hey, the ACC champ is guaranteed a spot in the bracket, which just cranks up the drama even more.
Let’s take a look at how things are shaping up in the College Football Playoff rankings and what that means for the teams still in the hunt.
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ACC Championship Race: A High-Stakes Battle
The ACC is in the spotlight, since its champion gets an automatic ticket to the College Football Playoff. Virginia, SMU, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Duke are all still technically alive, though Duke’s five losses make their climb pretty steep.
The ACC Championship Game coming up is going to be huge. Whoever wins there grabs that golden playoff spot.
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia’s been tough this season. If they beat Virginia Tech, they’ll lock in a spot in the ACC title game.
Coach Tony Elliott deserves some credit for the turnaround. A win here would really mean something for the program.
Miami Hurricanes
Miami’s still hanging around, but they need a lot to break their way unless they take the ACC crown outright. Their spot is shaky, but you never know—sometimes the Hurricanes pull off a surprise or two.
Big Ten Showdown: Ohio State vs. Michigan
Ohio State and Michigan are set for a monster showdown in Week 14. Ohio State sits at No. 1 and wants to stay there, chasing another national title.
If they lose to Michigan, though, things could go off the rails fast.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State’s looked sharp all year. Their eyes are on the championship, but Michigan is no pushover.
This game on the road will test them. They’ve prepped for it, but it’s never easy in Ann Arbor.
Michigan Wolverines
For Michigan, beating Ohio State could launch them right into the playoff talk. That’d be their second ranked win if Washington sneaks into the rankings.
Still, their path to the Big Ten title game isn’t simple. They need a little help from other teams losing their finales.
SEC Drama: Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M
The SEC, as usual, is a mess of contenders. Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M all have a shot, but each faces their own set of headaches.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama’s playoff dreams rest on beating Auburn. If they win, they’re still in the mix. Lose, and it’s over.
After that, a matchup with either Texas A&M or Georgia will decide even more. Their seeding could swing a lot.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia’s in a pretty good spot. They just need to handle Georgia Tech to lock up a first-round bye.
But if Alabama takes down Auburn and then knocks off Texas A&M in the SEC Championship, things might get complicated for the Bulldogs’ ranking.
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M is chasing a conference title and a bye. They’ve got to beat Texas—no way around it.
If they lose, they’ll be stuck playing at home in mid-December, with no extra rest. Not ideal.
Big 12 Contenders: Texas Tech and Oklahoma
The Big 12 has its own chaos brewing. Texas Tech and Oklahoma are both still fighting for playoff spots.
Their next games will probably decide who makes it and who’s watching from home.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech is basically locked in at No. 5. But if they blow out BYU in the Big 12 Championship, maybe they sneak into the top four.
A loss at West Virginia, though, and they could lose a first-round home game. It’s a tightrope walk.
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma’s defense has been solid, but the offense? That’s been a struggle.
They’ve got wins over Alabama and Missouri, so you can’t count them out. If they can clean up the offense, maybe they ride that defense all the way.
Notre Dame and the At-Large Bids
Notre Dame has made a pretty loud case for the playoff. That blowout win over Syracuse turned some heads.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Scoring 70 points against Syracuse? That’s a statement. Those early-season losses feel like ancient history now.
The Irish look ready to make a real playoff run.
Group of Six and Other Notables
There are still some Group of Six teams and a few others hanging around the playoff discussion. Their chances vary, but nobody’s out of it yet.
BYU Cougars
BYU’s in a good spot if they can beat UCF. That would put them in the conference title game.
Could set up a rematch with Texas Tech, and if that happens, the Big 12 might get two teams in.
Utah Utes
Utah’s been rolling lately. That comeback against Kansas State was wild.
If they keep winning, they could climb even higher in the rankings. Wouldn’t count them out just yet.
Conclusion
The College Football Playoff race is wild this year. So many teams are still in the mix, and nobody can really say for sure who’ll make it.
Every upcoming game feels huge. The next few weeks are going to decide everything—rankings, bragging rights, even those last golden tickets to the championship.
If you’re itching for deeper projections or just want to nerd out over stats, check out CBS Sports.
