College Football Playoff Rankings Shake Things Up Ahead of Selection Sunday
The latest College Football Playoff rankings dropped Tuesday night, and let’s just say the committee didn’t hold back. With championship weekend looming, the top 12 is starting to take shape - but not without a few surprises that have fans and analysts alike raising eyebrows.
At the top, things remain steady. Ohio State and Indiana continue to hold down the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, both undefeated and heading into the Big Ten title game with everything to play for. Georgia, climbing to No. 3, looks like it’s peaking at the right time, while Texas Tech continues its remarkable rise, now sitting at No. 4 and in prime position for a first-round bye.
Ole Miss Moves Up - Without Its Head Coach
Here’s where things get interesting. Ole Miss actually climbed a spot to No. 6 in the rankings - despite losing head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU just days ago. That move raised plenty of questions, but the committee is sticking to what it can measure.
“We don’t have any way to evaluate what Ole Miss looks like, plays like, without its head coach,” said CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek. “We can only evaluate what we know, and what we know now is Ole Miss is an 11-1 football team.”
Fair enough. The Rebels’ résumé speaks for itself, but it’s hard to ignore the potential ripple effects of losing a head coach this late in the game. Whether the team can maintain its edge heading into the postseason is a major storyline to watch.
Notre Dame Drops Despite Winning - Alabama Benefits
Meanwhile, Notre Dame found itself on the wrong side of the rankings shuffle. The Irish dropped to No. 10 despite a convincing win over Stanford, while Alabama leapfrogged them to No. 9 after edging out Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Both teams are 10-2. Both have strong brands. But in the committee’s eyes, the Tide’s seven-point road win in a heated rivalry game carried more weight than Notre Dame’s blowout over a struggling Stanford squad.
That sparked a split in the committee room, according to Yurachek.
“There are some in the Alabama camp, some in the Notre Dame camp,” he said. “We all think highly of both teams.”
The move is significant. Alabama’s new position gives it a much better shot at an at-large bid, even if it falls to Georgia in the SEC Championship. Notre Dame, on the other hand, suddenly finds itself on shakier ground despite riding a 10-game win streak.
James Madison Crashes the Party at No. 25
One of the biggest shakeups came at the bottom of the rankings. James Madison, representing the Sun Belt, slid into the No. 25 spot - a move that could have massive implications for the final playoff picture.
Here’s why it matters: The five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids into the 12-team playoff. That doesn’t guarantee a spot for every Power 4 league - and with James Madison now ranked ahead of unranked Duke (who plays No. 17 Virginia for the ACC title), the Sun Belt suddenly has a path.
If James Madison beats Troy and Duke beats Virginia, the committee could favor JMU for that fifth automatic spot. It’s a long shot, but the door is open.
What’s at Stake Across the Power Conferences
Let’s break down what’s on the line in each conference heading into title weekend:
ACC: The ACC is in a precarious position. No.
17 Virginia is in the title game, but the league’s highest-ranked team, No. 12 Miami, is sitting at home.
Miami needs help - and maybe a little chaos - to sneak in. Yurachek hinted that teams not playing this weekend will still be evaluated, so there’s a sliver of hope.
But the league’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
Big 12: BYU’s only loss came against Texas Tech, a 29-7 defeat that looms large. If the Cougars fall again, it could open the door for Notre Dame to climb. But if BYU wins, it strengthens their claim and complicates things for the Irish.
Big Ten: This is a three-horse race. Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon are all in the mix, and the loser of the Big Ten title game could still stay in the top four and snag a first-round bye. The question is whether the committee will value a close loss between top-tier teams.
SEC: Texas jumped to No. 13 after a big win over Texas A&M, while Vanderbilt stayed at No. 14 after knocking Tennessee out of the rankings. But the committee pointed out that the Commodores don’t have a signature win over a currently ranked team, which hurts their case.
Alabama’s move to No. 9 all but shuts the door on Vanderbilt, and Texas’ earlier loss to Florida doesn’t help their case either. Still, the SEC is poised to send at least four teams to the playoff - more than any other conference.
Projected First-Round Matchups (If Rankings Hold)
If the rankings stay as they are, here’s how the first round of the 12-team playoff would shape up:
- **No. 12 Tulane at No.
5 Oregon:** The Ducks just lost OC Will Stein to Kentucky, while Tulane’s head coach Jon Sumrall is heading to Florida - but staying on through the postseason. Coaching changes aside, this one could be a fireworks show.
- **No. 11 Virginia at No.
6 Ole Miss:** The Rebels are without Lane Kiffin now. The question is, will the rest of the staff and players stick around for the playoff?
Virginia, meanwhile, has everything to gain.
- **No. 10 Notre Dame at No.
7 Texas A&M:** Just a week ago, Marcus Freeman was lobbying for home-field advantage. Now, the Irish might be hitting the road.
And Aggie fans who felt disrespected by the rankings all season are finally getting their shot to prove the committee wrong.
- **No. 9 Alabama at No.
8 Oklahoma:** A rematch of a game that changed both teams’ seasons. OU’s win over Bama three weeks ago was a turning point.
Now the Tide gets a shot at revenge.
Selection Sunday Looms
The final rankings drop this Sunday, following a full slate of conference championship games. That’s when the 12 playoff teams - including the five automatic qualifiers - will be locked in.
The playoff kicks off Dec. 19 and wraps up a month later with the national title game just outside Miami. Between now and then, expect plenty of movement, a few more surprises, and no shortage of drama.
Because if there’s one thing this week’s rankings reminded us, it’s that the playoff committee isn’t afraid to shake things up.