When the College Football Playoff Selection Committee unveiled its third rankings of the 2025 season on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, it didn’t just reorder teams—it reshaped the entire playoff landscape. the College Football Playoff Rankings Show, broadcast live from ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, confirmed what fans had been whispering for weeks: Ohio State and Indiana are untouchable. But the real drama? Georgia vaulting into the top four, and Alabama tumbling out of the top five. It’s not just about wins and losses anymore—it’s about who you beat, when, and how badly.
Top Four Stands Firm, But Georgia’s Rise Changes Everything
Ohio State (10-0) and Indiana (11-0) held their spots at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Texas A&M (10-0) stayed at No. 3, completing the trio of undefeated powerhouses. But the real story? Georgia jumped from No. 5 to No. 4 after a 35-10 demolition of Texas in Austin. That wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The Bulldogs didn’t just beat a top-10 team; they exposed flaws in Texas’s defense and proved they can dominate on the road. Suddenly, Georgia isn’t just a contender—they’re a threat to unseat anyone.Alabama’s Fall and Texas’s Freefall
Meanwhile, Alabama dropped six spots—from No. 4 to No. 10—after consecutive losses to Florida State and Auburn. The Crimson Tide’s two defeats came against teams with a combined 6-14 record. That’s not just bad luck; it’s a red flag for the selection committee. As Bleacher Report noted, Alabama now faces a must-win finale against Auburn, and even a win might not be enough if the committee sees them as vulnerable. Meanwhile, Texas fell seven spots to No. 17 after that same Georgia loss. Their 7-3 record now looks shaky, especially with three losses to teams ranked outside the top 15.Oklahoma Soars, SEC Dominates the Top 10
The biggest climber? Oklahoma. The Sooners jumped from No. 11 to No. 8 after a convincing win over Texas Tech. That’s a five-spot leap in one week—rare for a team not in the top five. Their rise, combined with Georgia’s, gives the Southeastern Conference (SEC) five teams in the top 10: Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The SEC isn’t just strong—it’s overwhelming. No other conference has more than two teams in the top 10.Who’s In? Who’s Out? BYU Just Misses the Cut
The College Football Playoff field now has a clear structure: six automatic bids for conference champions, six at-large. BYU (9-1) sits as the first team out, despite a perfect record against non-powerhouse opponents. Why? Because they’re independent. Without a conference title, they’re at a structural disadvantage. Meanwhile, Miami (Fla.) (8-2) is the highest-ranked conference champion not in the top 12—meaning if they win the ACC Championship, they could jump into the playoff. That’s the twist: conference titles matter more than ever.
What’s Next? Two Weeks to Decide It All
The committee will release two more rankings—on December 2 and December 9—before the final bracket drops on Sunday, December 7, 2025. That’s it. Two weeks. Ohio State hosts Michigan on November 30. Indiana faces Purdue in their final game. Georgia plays Georgia Tech—a rivalry game with playoff implications. And Alabama? They’re playing for their season. Lose to Auburn, and their playoff hopes vanish.The Bigger Picture: Why This Format Is Changing College Football
The 12-team playoff, introduced in 2024, was meant to be fairer. But it’s also created more tension. Teams like BYU and Utah (No. 12) are now fighting for survival, not just bowl eligibility. Conference champions are no longer guaranteed a spot—only a shot. And the committee’s bias toward strength of schedule? It’s real. Illinois (7-3), a new entry at No. 21, climbed because of wins over ranked opponents. Tulane (8-2) and Houston (8-2) are in the conversation, but without a conference title, they’re stuck.It’s not just about who wins. It’s about who wins big, against whom, and when. And right now, Georgia just made the biggest statement of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Georgia’s rise affect Ohio State and Indiana’s playoff chances?
Georgia’s jump to No. 4 doesn’t threaten Ohio State or Indiana’s top-two spots—they’re still undefeated and have the strongest schedules. But it means if either of those teams lose their final game, Georgia could leapfrog them. The committee values head-to-head results, and Georgia’s 35-10 win over Texas gives them a resume no other team in the top five can match.
Why is BYU ranked so high but still out of the playoff?
BYU is 9-1 with no conference affiliation, meaning they can’t win an automatic bid. The CFP rules prioritize conference champions, even if they’re ranked lower. Miami (8-2), as the highest-ranked ACC champion, is currently ahead of BYU in the pecking order. Unless BYU wins a major bowl game and finishes in the top 6, they’re unlikely to make the playoff without a conference title.
Can Alabama still make the playoff with two losses?
Technically, yes—but it’s extremely unlikely. The committee has shown zero tolerance for losses to unranked or low-ranked teams. Alabama’s defeats came against Florida State and Auburn, both outside the top 25. Even if they beat Auburn again, they’d need multiple top-10 teams to lose ahead of them. The odds are less than 10%, based on past committee behavior.
What happens if Indiana loses to Purdue?
If Indiana loses, they’d likely drop to No. 5 or 6, opening the door for Georgia or Texas A&M to move up. But they’d still be in the playoff as a conference champion. The Big Ten champion gets an automatic bid, so even a 11-1 Indiana team would likely make the field. The real question is whether they’d be a 1-seed or a 5-seed.
Why are teams like Tulane and Houston ranked higher than some conference champions?
They’re not. Tulane and Houston are both 8-2 but not conference champions. The committee ranks them below conference champions like Miami (ACC) and Cincinnati (Big 12). Their rankings reflect strength of schedule and quality wins, but without a conference title, they’re ineligible for automatic bids. They’re in the conversation for at-large spots, but only if higher-ranked teams lose.
When will we know the final playoff matchups?
The final rankings and playoff bracket will be announced live on ESPN on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, from Bristol, Connecticut. Bowl assignments, including the Sugar Bowl, will be revealed at the same time. The semifinals are scheduled for January 1 and 2, 2026, with the national championship on January 20, 2026.