Sports
Third CFP Rankings 2025: Here’s the updated bracket and Top 25
The third edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings is here, and the national picture is tightening as the postseason comes into focus.
Top 25 kept Ohio State firmly at No. 1, as the margin between contenders continues to shrink – and rivalry week pressure is beginning to weigh on programs across the country. Now teams all across the country set their sights on week 13 and their next opponents of the regular season
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College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25: November 18, 2025
- Ohio State (10-0)
- Indiana (11-0)
- Texas A&M (10-0)
- Georgia (9-1)
- Texas Tech (10-1)
- Mississippi (10-1)
- Oregon (9-1)
- Oklahoma (8-2)
- Notre Dame (8-2)
- Alabama (8-2)
- BYU (9-1)
- Utah (8-2)
- Miami (8-2)
- Vanderbilt (8-2)
- Southern California (8-2)
- Georgia Tech (9-1)
- Texas (7-3)
- Michigan (8-2)
- Virginia (9-2)
- Tennessee (7-3)
- Illinois (7-3)
- Missouri (7-3)
- Houston (8-2)
- Tulane (8-2)
- Arizona State (7-3)
Bracket Projection: Who’s in as of November 18th?
This year’s playoff format has changed with first-round byes no longer guaranteed to the four highest-rated conference champions as it was in the first year of the 12-team system last season. The committee will seed all the qualifying teams, including the five best conference champions, and then the byes are awarded to the top four teams regardless of their league.
First round
- No. 12 Utah at No. 5 Texas Tech
- No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Mississippi
- No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Oregon
- No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
Quarterfinals
- No. 4 Georgia vs. Utah-Texas Tech winner
- No. 3 Texas A&M vs. BYU-Mississippi winner
- No. 2 Indiana vs. Alabama-Oregon winner
- No. 1 Ohio State vs. Notre Dame-Oklahoma winner
The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl will host the semifinals on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, respectively. And the championship game will be played on Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida, at Hard Rock Stadium.
