Ohio State held onto the top spot in the third College Football Playoff rankings released on November 18, 2025, while Texas Tech surged into the top five after a week of pivotal games reshuffled the standings. The unchanged top three of Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M underscored their dominance, but Georgia’s climb and Alabama’s fall injected drama into the playoff race.
The Buckeyes, defending national champions, maintained their No. 1 position following a resounding 48-10 victory over UCLA, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive solidity. Indiana stayed at No. 2 after a 31-7 win against Wisconsin, where a slow start gave way to a commanding second-half performance led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Texas A&M clung to No. 3 despite a historic comeback from a 30-3 halftime deficit to beat South Carolina 31-30, demonstrating resilience that impressed the selection committee.
Georgia leaped to No. 4 after a dominant 35-10 win over then-No. 10 Texas, with quarterback Gunner Stockton matching his career high of four touchdown passes and the defense recording three sacks. This victory not only bolstered the Bulldogs’ resume but also highlighted their potential as a serious playoff contender. Texas Tech ascended to No. 5 after demolishing UCF 48-9, capitalizing on chaos elsewhere to reach its highest ranking in years and solidifying its place in the Big 12 race.
Alabama’s stunning 23-21 loss to Oklahoma led to a six-spot drop to No. 10, jeopardizing the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes despite their four top-25 wins. Oklahoma jumped three places to No. 8 after the upset in Tuscaloosa, becoming the highest-ranked two-loss team and injecting excitement into the Big 12 landscape. Ole Miss moved up to No. 6 with a 34-24 win over Florida, while Oregon rose to No. 7 after steamrolling Minnesota 42-13, setting up a crucial Week 13 clash with USC.
Notre Dame held steady at No. 9 after crushing Pittsburgh 37-15 on the road, but Miami’s rise to No. 13 despite a head-to-head win over the Irish sparked controversy. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek noted that head-to-head would factor in if teams become comparable, emphasizing Miami’s losses to unranked opponents as a key differentiator. The SEC led all conferences with nine ranked teams, reflecting its depth, while the Big Ten had six and the Big 12 five, including newcomers Houston and Arizona State.
Projected first-round playoff matchups based on the rankings include Tulane at Texas Tech, Miami at Ole Miss, Alabama at Oregon, and Notre Dame at Oklahoma, with byes for the top four seeds. The 12-team format, featuring the five highest-ranked conference champions, promises a thrilling December, as teams jockey for position in the final stretch. Critical upcoming games, such as Ohio State at Michigan and Texas A&M at Texas, will heavily influence the final rankings set for release on December 7.
The expanded playoff field, with first-round games at campus sites on December 19-20 and the championship on January 19, 2026, in Miami, adds layers of strategy and anticipation. As the season winds down, every result could alter the bracket, making the final weeks a test of consistency and clutch performance for contenders across the nation.
