After a Week 13 with minimal upsets in college football, the College Football Playoff top 12 is projected to remain unchanged, but the impending Rivalry Week threatens to inject chaos and reshape the postseason landscape. The selection committee’s fourth rankings, due Tuesday, are expected to reflect the stability of the past weekend, yet critical rivalry matchups could alter seeding and conference championship prospects.
Ohio State holds firm at the top with an 11-0 record, bolstered by dominant performances and key wins over ranked opponents like Texas and Illinois. Despite injuries to standout receivers, the Buckeyes’ elite efficiency on both sides of the ball maintains their position, though a looming clash with Michigan could test their supremacy. Indiana, also undefeated at 11-0, secures the second spot, credited with a significant road victory at Oregon and consistent offensive and defensive metrics that have impressed the committee during their bye week.
Texas A&M remains third at 11-0, leaning on a narrow win over Notre Dame and a schedule that avoided top SEC rivals, but their upcoming game at Texas poses a major challenge. Georgia sits fourth with a 10-1 record, highlighted by convincing wins over Texas and Ole Miss, and a strength of schedule that outpaces the top three teams, keeping them in contention for a first-round bye. The Bulldogs can clinch an SEC title game spot with assistance from other results, adding stakes to their finale against Georgia Tech.
In the middle rankings, Texas Tech at fifth and Ole Miss at sixth show little movement after bye weeks, with the Red Raiders’ stout defense and Ole Miss’s road win over Oklahoma reinforcing their positions. Oregon, at seventh, strengthened its case with a statement victory over USC but may not surpass Ole Miss due to comparative résumés and schedule strength. Oklahoma and Notre Dame hold the eighth and ninth spots, setting up a potential first-round playoff rematch, with the Sooners’ defensive prowess and the Irish’s offensive consistency as defining traits.
The lower seeds feature Alabama at tenth, hindered by running game struggles despite a tough schedule, and BYU and Utah at eleventh and twelfth, respectively. BYU’s head-to-head win over Utah provides an edge, but both face must-win scenarios in their final games to secure playoff berths. The projected bracket includes first-round matchups like Tulane at Texas Tech and Notre Dame at Oklahoma, with winners advancing to quarterfinals against top seeds in major bowl games.
Rivalry Week introduces high-stakes drama, with games such as Ohio State at Michigan, Texas A&M at Texas, and Alabama at Auburn capable of upending the rankings. These outcomes will influence conference championship bids and playoff seeding, particularly in the expanded 12-team format. The committee’s final rankings on December 7 will solidify the bracket, but this week’s results will critically shape the path to the national championship, emphasizing the heightened anticipation and unpredictability of the season’s climax.
