College Football Playoff Committee Unveils First Rankings of the Season
The College Football Playoff committee unveiled its first rankings, placing Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama, shaping the championship race.
Overview
- The College Football Playoff committee announced its first rankings of the season, with Ohio State securing the top spot, followed closely by Indiana at number two.
- Texas A&M and Alabama rounded out the top four in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, positioning them as early contenders for a playoff berth.
- Georgia, Mississippi/Ole Miss, BYU (8-0), Texas Tech, Oregon, and Notre Dame were also featured in the initial top ten, ranging from fifth to tenth.
- Memphis emerged as the highest-ranked leader from a Group of 5 conference, indicating their strong performance and potential to challenge higher-ranked teams.
- The committee plans to release a total of six weekly rankings throughout the season, culminating in the final top 25 selection on Sunday, December 7.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the College Football Playoff rankings neutrally, focusing on factual reporting of team standings and playoff rules. They avoid loaded language or selective emphasis, presenting the information straightforwardly. The coverage explains the ranking system and its implications without injecting editorial bias or promoting a specific narrative about the teams or the sport.
"This marked the first of six weekly rankings the 12-person playoff committee will release this season, ending Dec. 6 when the final list will set the bracket for college football’s 12-team playoff."
Chicago Sun-Times"The Buckeyes, off to an 8-0 start, are followed by Indiana at No. 2, while No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama grabbed the remaining top-four seeds."
USA TODAYArticles (3)
FAQ
The committee ranks teams by evaluating factors such as strength of schedule, head-to-head competition, outcomes of common opponents, championships won, and other relevant considerations like player availability. Members start with listing top teams, then rank them to assign points; the teams with the lowest points are ranked highest. This process occurs in multiple rounds before finalizing the rankings.
Starting in 2024, the College Football Playoff expanded from a four-team to a 12-team tournament. The field includes the five highest-ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The top four seeds receive first-round byes, and seeds 5 through 12 play at home sites in the first round. Unlike previous seasons, the top four seeds are selected based on rankings alone, not guaranteed to be conference champions.
The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025 season placed Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Indiana at No. 2. Texas A&M was third, and Alabama was fourth, establishing them as early contenders for playoff berths.
There will be a total of six weekly College Football Playoff rankings released throughout the season, with the final top 25 selection coming out on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Memphis was the highest-ranked leader from a Group of 5 conference in the initial 2025 College Football Playoff rankings, indicating its strong performance and potential to compete with higher-ranked Power Five conference teams for a playoff spot.
History
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