The final College Football Playoff rankings before Championship Weekend have dropped, and the Big 12 is making a serious statement. Five teams from the conference are sitting inside the Top 25, with Texas Tech leading the charge-and making a case that’s impossible to ignore.
Texas Tech Surging at the Right Time
Let’s start with the Red Raiders. After steamrolling West Virginia 49-0, Texas Tech has climbed to No. 4 in the nation.
That’s not just a big win-it’s a message. This team is peaking when it matters most, and the committee has taken notice.
Sitting just behind Georgia (No. 3), Indiana (No. 2), and top-ranked Ohio State, Tech is now in prime position for a first-round bye under the new CFP format.
Big 12 Depth on Display
But Tech isn’t alone. BYU holds steady at No. 11 after a dominant 41-21 win over UCF. The Cougars have been consistent all year, and they’ll get their shot to prove they belong in the playoff conversation when they face Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship this weekend.
Utah checks in at No. 15, dropping two spots despite a solid 31-21 win on the road at Kansas. It wasn’t the flashiest win, but it was enough to keep them in the hunt.
Arizona, meanwhile, made a big jump-from No. 25 to No. 18-after a gritty 23-7 comeback win over rival Arizona State. The Wildcats have been one of the more intriguing teams in the second half of the season, and they’re trending in the right direction at just the right time.
Then there’s Houston. The Cougars are back in the Top 25 at No. 21 after finishing 9-3 with a road win over Baylor. It’s been a season of ups and downs, but Houston has put together a strong enough resume to earn national recognition heading into bowl season.
Playoff Format: What’s New This Year
This year’s playoff structure has a new wrinkle. While the five highest-ranked conference champions will still qualify for the 12-team field, the seeding is now strictly based on ranking. That means the top four teams in the final poll-regardless of whether they win their conference-will receive first-round byes.
That’s huge for Texas Tech. If they hold onto that No. 4 spot, they’ll skip the first round entirely. But a loss to BYU could shake things up in a hurry.
The first-round matchups will be played on campus sites of the higher seeds on December 19th and 20th. That’s right-home-field advantage in the postseason.
The quarterfinals move to the traditional New Year’s Six venues: the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl on December 31st and January 1st. Then we head to the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl on January 8th and 9th, with the national title game set for January 19th at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Championship Weekend: Everything on the Line
This weekend is loaded. Texas Tech vs.
BYU in the Big 12 title game is a battle between two Top 12 teams with major playoff implications. Win, and you’re likely in.
Lose, and you’re at the mercy of the committee.
In the SEC, it’s another heavyweight clash between Alabama and Georgia. The Bulldogs are sitting at No. 3 and could lock in a bye with a win. Alabama, as always, is lurking with a chance to shake up the top four.
The Big Ten Championship is a top-three showdown: Ohio State vs. Indiana.
The Buckeyes are No. 1, Indiana is No. 2, and the winner likely secures the top overall seed.
That’s as high-stakes as it gets.
In the ACC, Virginia and Duke will battle it out for the conference crown. While neither team is currently in the playoff mix, a dominant win could vault the champion into the conversation-especially if chaos unfolds elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
The Big 12 has five teams in the Top 25, and two of them-Texas Tech and BYU-are about to go head-to-head with a playoff spot on the line. The new format has added another layer of intrigue, and with first-round byes up for grabs, every snap this weekend matters.
Buckle up. Championship Weekend is here, and the road to Miami is about to get wild.