With the College Football Playoff field just days from being finalized, the penultimate rankings drop is set to stir up plenty of conversation-and for good reason. Rivalry Week didn’t just shake the tree; it might’ve knocked a few teams right out of the top-tier conversation.
The biggest jolt came out of the Lone Star State, where No. 16 Texas pulled off a stunner, toppling previously undefeated No.
3 Texas A&M. That loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate the Aggies from CFP contention, but it does cost them a shot at the SEC Championship Game-and likely a first-round bye in the 12-team format.
So now the question becomes: how far does Texas A&M fall, and who’s ready to leapfrog them?
**Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon, and Ole Miss are lurking. ** All four teams-ranked 4 through 7-have a legitimate shot at sliding past the Aggies in the updated rankings.
Georgia seems poised to move up regardless, while Texas Tech continues to build a compelling case, especially if they can finish strong in the Big 12 title game. Oregon and Ole Miss are right there too, with the Rebels’ situation made a bit more unpredictable following the resolution of the Lane Kiffin coaching saga.
With Kiffin now officially out at LSU, the committee may weigh the impact of that transition on Ole Miss’ postseason trajectory.
**USC is likely to move up after Michigan’s loss. ** The Trojans, sitting at No. 17, are expected to jump ahead of No.
15 Michigan, who fell to top-ranked Ohio State. But for USC, the climb is more about pride than playoff dreams-they’re essentially out of the running for a CFP spot and look set to finish as the fourth-highest ranked Big Ten team when the dust settles.
Here’s a look at the projected Top 25 heading into the final rankings:
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- BYU
- Miami
- Utah
- Vanderbilt
- Texas
- USC
- Virginia
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Tulane
- Missouri
- Iowa
- James Madison
- Georgia Tech
- North Texas
**One of the biggest debates? Notre Dame over Miami.
** Despite Miami’s head-to-head win earlier in the season, the Irish are holding strong at No. 9, with the Hurricanes sitting at No. 12.
That discrepancy hasn’t become a flashpoint just yet, but with both teams on the outside looking in, and with conference championship games still to play, that head-to-head result could come back into focus quickly.
**The SEC Championship Game looms large. ** No.
4 Georgia and No. 10 Alabama are set to square off in Atlanta, and the Bulldogs appear to have a playoff spot locked up regardless of the result.
But Alabama? That’s a different story.
A loss could knock the Tide out of the top 12 altogether, depending on how other dominoes fall.
**The Big 12 title game could be a CFP decider. ** If No.
11 BYU manages to beat No. 5 Texas Tech, both teams would likely punch their ticket to the playoff.
But if the Red Raiders take down the Cougars for a second time this season, BYU’s case gets a lot murkier. That matchup might be one of the most impactful of championship weekend.
Texas is hanging around the bubble. The Longhorns’ upset win over Texas A&M was massive, but it might not be enough to vault them into the top 12. They’re expected to be ranked near USC-teams with strong résumés but not quite enough juice to crash the playoff party.
**And what about the Group of Five? ** Tulane, currently at No. 24, seems to have the inside track for the Group of Five’s reserved CFP spot.
But don’t count out James Madison or North Texas. Both are ranked in the projected Top 25 and could sneak into that coveted position depending on how things shake out in the coming days.
**Rivalry Week also cleared out some space. ** Teams like Tennessee, Arizona State, SMU, and Pittsburgh all suffered losses that likely pushed them out of the rankings.
Georgia Tech, despite a loss to Georgia, might hang on at No. 24 or 25 thanks to a stronger overall profile. But the door is wide open for new teams to enter the conversation.
The committee's final decisions are just around the corner, but this week’s rankings will offer one last glimpse into how the playoff puzzle is shaping up. With so many conference championships still to be played, and so many teams still in the hunt, buckle up-this is where the chaos begins.