The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025-26 season were released, with Ohio State leading the pack, while Week 11 games delivered thrilling outcomes that refined the postseason outlook for the expanded 12-team format.
On Tuesday, November 4, the selection committee revealed its initial top 25, placing Ohio State at No. 1 due to their perfect record and comprehensive play. Indiana and Texas A&M followed as unbeaten contenders, underscoring the competitive depth in college football this year. The rankings serve as a preliminary bracket, with the top four teams earning first-round byes into the quarterfinals, setting the stage for a dynamic playoff race.
Week 11 was marked by close calls and statement wins that directly influenced the playoff landscape. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza engineered a dramatic 80-yard drive in the final minutes to defeat Penn State, cementing his Heisman Trophy candidacy and keeping the Hoosiers undefeated. Similarly, Oregon escaped Iowa with a last-second field goal, showcasing their resilience as defending Big Ten champions and maintaining their position in the top 10.
In the Big 12, Texas Tech’s emphatic 29-7 victory over previously unbeaten BYU reshaped the conference landscape, pushing the Red Raiders into the playoff projections and highlighting their defensive prowess. This win sets up a potential conference championship rematch, while BYU must rebound to stay in contention. The game illustrated the volatility of the Big 12, where no team has secured a clear path yet, with Texas also lurking as a threat.
The projected bracket, based on current rankings, features intriguing first-round matchups, including No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia and No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 BYU. Winners will advance to quarterfinals against top seeds like Ohio State and Texas A&M, with games hosted at iconic bowls such as the Rose and Sugar Bowls. The schedule kicks off on December 19-20 with campus-site first rounds, leading to the national championship on January 19 in Miami.
Conference dynamics play a crucial role, with the SEC potentially placing five teams in the playoff, including Alabama and Ole Miss, while the Big Ten could send three. The ACC’s race tightened after Wake Forest’s upset of Virginia, leaving Georgia Tech as the projected champion. The Group of Five spot is contested by North Texas, James Madison, and others, with no team yet ranked in the top 25, emphasizing the importance of late-season performances.
Key upcoming games will determine final seeding, with Texas A&M facing Texas and Alabama taking on Oklahoma in critical SEC showdowns. The Big Ten title race remains tight, and the Big 12 could see a rematch between Texas Tech and BYU. As the season progresses, the committee’s rankings will evolve, but the foundation set in Week 11 provides a clear snapshot of the contenders and their paths to the playoff.
Looking ahead, the expanded format introduces more opportunities for teams, but also increased pressure to perform in high-stakes matchups. The results from Week 11 have established a hierarchy, with Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M as front-runners, but surprises in the coming weeks could reshuffle the bracket. Fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to the season as teams jockey for position in the race for the national championship.
