New York, December 01, 2025
The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee is set to release its penultimate top 12 rankings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, defining the playoff landscape ahead of conference championships by highlighting undefeated teams Ohio State and Indiana as the front-runners, alongside strong contenders like Texas A&M and Georgia.
Top Tier Teams Holding Positions 1-5
Ohio State leads the projected rankings with an undefeated 12-0 record, maintaining the No. 1 spot due to dominant recent performances. Indiana closely follows at No. 2, also undefeated with a 12-0 record supported by significant late-season victories. Power conference teams Texas A&M (11-1) and Georgia (11-1) hold steady at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, buoyed by quality wins and strong schedules. Texas Tech, with an 11-1 record, has risen to the No. 5 position after key victories have propelled it into the playoff conversation.
Middle Rankings and Bubble Teams
Oregon (11-1) and Ole Miss (11-1) hold sixth and seventh spots, sustained by consistent performance and marquee wins within their conferences. Oklahoma and Notre Dame, each with two losses (10-2), appear as bubble teams near the middle of the pack, faced with the challenge of securing playoff spots amid fierce competition. Alabama (10-2), despite some losses, remains in the top 10 due to strong schedule strength and historic program stature. Meanwhile, BYU (11-1) and Miami (10-2) are positioned just outside the playoff bubble, likely at Nos. 10 and 11. Utah (10-2) and Arizona (9-3) round out the projected top 12, battling for the critical final spots with strong late-season performances.
Context and Implications of the Penultimate Ranking
This penultimate CFP ranking is pivotal, as it heavily influences how the committee will evaluate teams before the decisive conference championships. The committee’s criteria include overall records, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and quality wins. Teams such as Tulane (10-2), a conference champion, and others like Michigan, Texas, and Vanderbilt stand on the fringe, their playoff hopes hinging on forthcoming outcomes. The rankings are not merely numerical listings but strategic indicators of potential playoff qualification and seeding.
With this critical ranking scheduled for release on Tuesday, coaches, players, and fans watch closely as the playoff picture sharpens. The final top 12 following conference championships will ultimately finalize the playoff field, but Tuesday’s update provides the last major adjustment, reflecting performances through the regular season and setting the stage for the climactic championship showdowns.