With the college football regular season officially in the books and conference championship weekend looming, all eyes are now on the final stretch before Selection Sunday. The latest College Football Playoff rankings dropped Tuesday night, and the committee gave us some clarity-though not without raising a few eyebrows along the way.
Let’s start with one of the biggest shakeups: Texas leapfrogged Vanderbilt in the rankings after knocking off Texas A&M in a statement win. That jump might’ve sealed the Commodores’ fate.
Despite a strong 10-2 finish in the SEC, Vanderbilt now finds itself on the outside looking in, with little to no realistic path to an at-large bid. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that had quietly built a solid résumé, but in a system where timing and style points matter, late-season momentum is everything-and Texas has it.
Then there’s the logjam just outside the top tier. Miami remains two spots behind Notre Dame, and with the Fighting Irish currently sitting right on the playoff cut line, it’s hard to envision a scenario where the Hurricanes leapfrog them in time. Miami’s case isn’t without merit, but the committee seems to be holding steady, and unless something dramatic happens this weekend, that gap may prove too much to overcome.
The Group of Five also made its presence felt in the latest rankings. North Texas and James Madison both cracked the list, and that’s more than just a pat on the back-it’s a signal.
With Tulane set to face North Texas in the American Athletic Conference title game, the winner is now essentially a lock for a CFP spot. That’s a big deal.
The committee has made it clear: win, and you’re in.
James Madison’s path is a little more complex, but still very much alive. If the Dukes can take care of business against Troy and get a little help from Duke beating Virginia, they’re likely punching their ticket too. It’s the kind of scenario that underscores just how much is still in play, even this late in the season.
So, if the season ended today, we’d have a pretty clear bracket. But it doesn’t.
And with championship weekend ahead, the potential for chaos is still very real. One upset, one unexpected result, and the whole playoff picture could shift.
That’s the beauty-and the madness-of college football in December.