The College Football Playoff selection committee unveiled its second set of rankings on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, with Ohio State retaining the top spot, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama in the top four, all unchanged from the previous week. This release solidifies the front-runners for the expanded 12-team playoff as the season heads into its final stretch.
The top five teams remained identical, with Ohio State (9-0) leading, Indiana (10-0) in second, Texas A&M (9-0) third, Alabama (8-1) fourth, and Georgia (8-1) fifth. This consistency reflects the committee’s confidence in these programs’ performances, despite close games in recent weeks. For instance, Ohio State’s offensive dominance and defensive strength have kept them at number one, while Indiana’s perfect record and key victories have secured their high position.
Committee chair Mack Rhoades highlighted the deliberation between Indiana and Texas A&M for the second spot, ultimately favoring the Hoosiers due to their defensive prowess and ability to win tight contests. Indiana’s narrow 27-24 win over Penn State, secured with a last-minute touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr., did not detract from their standing, as the committee valued their resilience. Rhoades noted that Indiana’s body of work, including impressive road wins, gave them the edge.
Texas A&M, also undefeated, bolstered their case with strong road performances, such as a 38-17 victory at Missouri and an earlier 41-40 shootout at Notre Dame. The Aggies’ balanced attack and challenging schedule kept them in the top three, with Rhoades praising their consistency. Meanwhile, Alabama’s lone loss did not drop them far, as their talent and SEC pedigree maintained their elite status.
Further down the rankings, Texas Tech rose two spots to sixth after a dominant 29-7 defensive performance against BYU, leapfrogging Ole Miss. The Red Raiders’ ascent highlights their growing contention, though the committee pointed to offensive red-zone efficiency as an area for improvement. BYU fell five spots after their first loss, while other teams like Notre Dame and Texas held steady in the top 12.
Conference representation underscored the SEC’s dominance, with six teams in the top 12, followed by the Big Ten with three and the Big 12 with two. The ACC placed five teams in the top 25 but none higher than 15th, with Miami at 16th as the highest despite two conference losses, aided by a head-to-head win over Notre Dame. South Florida emerged as the sole Group of 5 team in the rankings, positioned to claim a playoff spot.
If these rankings determined the playoff bracket, Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama would receive first-round byes. The first-round matchups would pit South Florida at Georgia, Miami at Texas Tech, Texas at Ole Miss, and Notre Dame at Oregon, promising high-stakes games in mid-December. This structure rewards top seeds while ensuring competitive play-in rounds.
Looking ahead, the committee will update rankings weekly, with teams facing pivotal games that could reshuffle the order. Indiana and Texas A&M must navigate tough opponents to maintain their bye positions, while contenders like Texas Tech aim to crack the top four. The final rankings in December will lock in the playoff field, building anticipation for a potentially historic postseason.
