The inaugural edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings was unveiled on Tuesday night, placing Ohio State in the lead at No. 1, followed closely by Indiana. With merely weeks left in the 2025 season, Ohio State will concentrate on maintaining its top seed in the postseason amid a challenging rank of top 25 contenders.
Currently undefeated with victories over Texas and Illinois, the reigning national champion, the Buckeyes, are striving for their seventh playoff appearance over the past 12 years since the inception of the postseason bracket (2014, 2016, 2019-20, 2022, 2024).
Historical data suggests that eight of the eleven teams that have opened ranked first in the College Football Playoff ended up making it to the playoffs, a pursuit made easier by the expanded 12-team format, which is in its second season.
Ohio State stands at an impressive 8-0 (5-0 in the Big Ten) and faces only one final ranked opponent in its regular-season finale: Michigan. They will wrestle atop the Big Ten alongside undefeated Indiana, which has a weak strength of schedule ahead.
Completing the top five are Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. Interestingly, no Team from the Group of Five categories was included in the current rankings. As the 12-team playoff format allows for automated bids for the five highest-ranked conference champions, whoever is next to fill the final bid could emerge from the final CFP rankings.
Texas A&M enjoys a solid position within the SEC, boasting strong wins against teams with winning records while integrity of schedule remains a crucial evaluative aspect in the committee’s outlook this season. With recent competitive showdowns and metrics prioritizing quality wins, the pace of the playoff selection process is heated as teams move into upcoming matchups.
Current Rankings as of November 4:
- Ohio State (8-0)
- Indiana (9-0)
- Texas A&M (8-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- Georgia (7-1)
- Ole Miss (8-1)
- BYU (8-0)
- Texas Tech (8-1)
- Oregon (7-1)
- Notre Dame (6-2)
- Texas (7-2)
- Oklahoma (7-2)
- Utah (7-2)
- Virginia (8-1)
- Louisville (7-1)
- Vanderbilt (7-2)
- Georgia Tech (8-1)
- Miami (FL) (6-2)
- USC (6-2)
- Iowa (6-2)
- Michigan (7-2)
- Missouri (6-2)
- Washington (6-2)
- Pittsburgh (7-2)
- Tennessee (6-3)
