Top 25 College Football Rankings and Bowl Game Results
The 2025 college football season? It’s been wild—honestly, one of the most entertaining in recent memory. Bowl games and playoff matchups have kept fans glued to their screens, with the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings shaping every twist and turn.
Teams have been clawing for a shot at glory, battling through a gauntlet of games. Now, after all the chaos, we’re finally staring down the national championship: Indiana versus Miami (Fla.).
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Top 25 College Football Playoff Rankings
The selection committee has dropped its final CFP rankings. That’s set the table for the bowl games and, of course, the championship.
Here’s how the top 25 stack up right now:
- 1. Indiana (13-0)
- 2. Ohio State (12-1)
- 3. Georgia (12-1)
- 4. Texas Tech (12-1)
- 5. Oregon (11-1)
- 6. Ole Miss (11-1)
- 7. Texas A&M (11-1)
- 8. Oklahoma (10-2)
- 9. Alabama (10-2)
- 10. Miami (Fla.) (10-2)
- 11. Notre Dame (10-2)
- 12. BYU (11-2)
- 13. Texas (9-3)
- 14. Vanderbilt (10-2)
- 15. Utah (10-2)
- 16. Southern Cal (9-3)
- 17. Arizona (9-3)
- 18. Michigan (9-3)
- 19. Virginia (10-3)
- 20. Tulane (11-2)
- 21. Houston (9-3)
- 22. Georgia Tech (9-3)
- 23. Iowa (8-4)
- 24. James Madison (12-1)
- 25. North Texas (11-2)
First Round Highlights
The first round? It didn’t disappoint. On Friday, December 19, No. 9 Alabama knocked off No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24.
The next day, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) squeaked by No. 7 Texas A&M in a gritty, low-scoring fight—10-3. No. 6 Ole Miss steamrolled No. 11 Tulane, winning 41-10.
No. 5 Oregon outgunned No. 12 James Madison 51-34. Points were flying everywhere.
Quarterfinals Recap
The quarterfinals? Even crazier. On Wednesday, December 31, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) stunned No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14, in the Cotton Bowl.
The very next day, No. 5 Oregon blanked No. 4 Texas Tech, 23-0, in the Orange Bowl. No. 1 Indiana made a statement, crushing No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl.
No. 6 Ole Miss edged No. 3 Georgia 39-34 in a wild Sugar Bowl finish.
Semifinals Showdown
The semifinals were, honestly, electric. Thursday, January 8: No. 10 Miami (Fla.) kept rolling, beating No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Then, No. 1 Indiana absolutely dismantled No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. That’s how we got here—Indiana versus Miami for it all.
National Championship Preview
The big one’s set: Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Indiana Hoosiers, sitting at No. 1, and the relentless No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.
It’s a matchup that’s got just about everything—history on the line, underdog stories, and two fanbases that are starving for a title.
Indiana’s Historic Rise
Indiana’s story? Pretty wild, honestly. This is a school everyone knows for basketball, but here they are, undefeated and barreling into the football spotlight.
Head coach Tom Allen has them firing on all cylinders. The Hoosiers have been piling up wins with a scary-good offense and a defense that just doesn’t give up much.
They blasted Alabama in the quarters, then ran away from Oregon in the semis. Not sure anybody saw this coming, but here they are.
Miami’s Resurgence
Miami, though—they’ve been scrappy all year. Head coach Mario Cristobal’s group has been counted out a few times, but they just keep finding ways to win.
The Hurricanes’ defense has clamped down on some big names, like holding Texas A&M to three and shutting down Ohio State’s attack. Their playoff run has felt a bit like a movie script.
They gutted out a win over Ole Miss in the semis, and now, they’re right where they want to be: one win from the top.
Key Players to Watch
Who’s going to step up in the title game? For Indiana, quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been the guy—cool under pressure, and he can beat you with his arm or his legs.
Mendoza’s been the engine, but linebacker Micah McFadden deserves a shout, too. He’s everywhere, making big stops and setting the tone for that defense.
On the Miami side, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is the spark. He’s got a cannon for an arm, and he’s been making the right calls when it matters most.
Defensive end Jahfari Harvey has been a menace, too—constantly blowing up plays and making life miserable for opposing QBs.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football season has brought fans some wild moments. Seriously, some of these matchups have been edge-of-your-seat stuff.
Now, with the national championship game almost here, you can just feel the tension building. Indiana and Miami (Fla.) both earned their shot, and honestly, their showdown might just live up to the hype.
Curious for more updates or want all the nitty-gritty details? Check out the NCAA’s official website.
