The latest College Football Playoff Rankings brought some serious shakeups, and with conference championship weekend looming, the path to the postseason is starting to take shape - and tighten.
Texas A&M Tumbles, Texas Tech Climbs
Texas A&M’s loss to Texas in the final full weekend of the regular season proved costly. The Aggies slipped from the top four all the way down to No. 7, opening the door for Texas Tech to slide into the No. 4 spot. That’s a huge leap for the Red Raiders, who now find themselves in prime playoff position heading into the Big 12 Championship Game.
Georgia Moves Up, Ohio State and Indiana Hold Steady
Georgia continues its upward momentum, moving up one spot to No. 3.
The Bulldogs have been gaining steam down the stretch and are now set for a heavyweight SEC Championship clash with Alabama. Meanwhile, Ohio State and Indiana remain locked in at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Both programs are in control of their playoff destinies, but with championship weekend ahead, nothing is guaranteed.
Alabama’s Win Over Auburn Shakes Things Up
Alabama’s narrow 27-20 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl was enough to bump the Crimson Tide up to No. 9, leapfrogging Notre Dame, which now sits at No. 10.
That’s more than just a one-spot drop for the Irish - it could be the difference between making the playoff field or watching from home. As an independent, Notre Dame doesn’t have the benefit of a conference championship game to bolster its résumé, so their playoff hopes now hinge on what happens around them.
Ole Miss Holding Strong Despite Coaching Change
Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU hasn’t derailed Ole Miss - at least not yet. The Rebels remain at No. 6, which would give them home-field advantage in the opening round of the projected 12-team playoff.
Keeping most of the coaching staff intact through the postseason has likely helped steady the ship. For now, Ole Miss is still very much in the mix.
Group of Five Watch: Tulane Leads, James Madison Rising
Tulane continues to lead the Group of Five pack, holding steady at No. 20.
That position would land the Green Wave the No. 12 seed in the projected bracket, assuming they win the American Athletic Conference. North Texas, ranked No. 24, is still in the hunt for that same automatic bid, so the AAC title game carries major implications.
But the team to watch right now might be James Madison. The Dukes made their debut in the CFP rankings this week after wrapping up an 11-1 regular season with a dominant 59-10 win over Coastal Carolina. Undefeated in Sun Belt play, James Madison now heads into the conference title game against Troy with a shot - albeit a narrow one - at crashing the playoff party.
For the Dukes to sneak in, they’ll need some help. A Virginia loss to Duke in the ACC Championship Game could open up one of the five automatic Group of Five spots. And with Duke sitting on five losses, it’s tough to see the committee choosing them over an 11-1 James Madison squad.
Could Two Group of Five Teams Make It?
It’s not out of the question. If James Madison wins the Sun Belt and Tulane or North Texas takes the AAC, both could end up in the playoff field. That would be a historic moment for the Group of Five - and a testament to the depth and competitiveness outside the Power Five conferences this season.
Notre Dame’s Playoff Hopes Hanging by a Thread
Notre Dame’s drop to No. 10 is more than just a number - it puts the Irish squarely on the playoff bubble. As the last team currently projected to earn an at-large bid, they no longer control their own destiny.
The Irish will be scoreboard-watching this weekend, especially in the Big 12. If No.
11 BYU upsets Texas Tech and wins the conference title, it would likely jump into the field as a champion. That could push Texas Tech into an at-large spot - and knock Notre Dame out altogether.
There’s still a lot of football left to play, but one thing is clear: the margin for error is gone. For teams like Notre Dame, James Madison, and even Alabama, every result this weekend could shift the playoff picture dramatically.
Buckle up - Championship Weekend is going to be a wild ride.