The College Football Playoff Selection Committee dropped its third rankings of the 2025 season on Tuesday, November 18, and the top three remained locked in place — no surprises, no upsets, just cold, hard consistency. Ohio State (10-0) stayed at No. 1, Indiana (11-0) clung to No. 2, and Texas A&M (10-0) held firm at No. 3. It’s the third straight week the same trio has led the pack, and while it might feel predictable, the pressure is mounting behind them. The real drama? The fall of Alabama — from No. 4 to No. 10 — after their shocking 31-28 loss to Oklahoma on November 15. That result didn’t just shake the rankings; it cracked open the entire playoff picture.
The Top Three: Unshakable, But Not Untouchable
Ohio State didn’t just win — they dominated. Their schedule, featuring wins over Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa, has been the most brutal in the Big Ten. Their offense? Efficient. Their defense? Lockdown. As ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit put it during the broadcast from Bristol: "They haven’t just been good — they’ve been relentless." But here’s the thing: they haven’t played a team ranked in the top 10 since October. That’s the asterisk everyone’s whispering about. Indiana is the quiet storm. Eleven wins. Zero losses. No marquee name on their schedule? True. But they’ve beaten Iowa and Purdue convincingly, and their defense has allowed just 14.3 points per game since October. They’re the only undefeated team in the Power Five. That matters. A lot. Texas A&M? They’ve been the most underrated team all season. Their win over LSU in October still looks better with every passing week. They’ve got a top-10 defense, a Heisman-caliber quarterback in Malik Benson, and a schedule that’s only getting tougher. Their next game — against Arkansas — might be the last test before the SEC Championship.The Rollercoaster: Georgia’s Climb and Alabama’s Fall
The biggest movement? Georgia vaulted from No. 5 to No. 4 after Alabama lost. The Bulldogs beat Tennessee 38-17 on November 15, their fourth straight win by at least 20 points. Their defense? Unstoppable. Their offense? Growing. And now, they’re the team everyone’s watching to see if they can crash the top three. Alabama’s drop to No. 10 is the story of the week. One loss to Oklahoma — a team they beat by 21 points last year — and suddenly, they’re on the bubble. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd nailed it: "They’re not out yet, but they’re holding on by a thread. One slip in the SEC Championship, and they’re watching the playoffs from home." The Crimson Tide still have a shot — beat Auburn and then Georgia in the SEC title game — but the margin for error is gone.Newcomers, Bubble Teams, and the 12-Team Reality
The most exciting entry? Tulane. The Green Wave, fresh off a 35-24 win over Florida Atlantic in New Orleans, cracked the top 25 at No. 24. Their 5-1 record in the American Athletic Conference is the best in the group. If they win their final two games — against SMU and Cincinnati — they could be the first Group of Five team to make the 12-team playoff. That’s not fantasy. That’s the new reality. The bracket projections show a wild first round: Texas Tech (5) hosting Utah (12), Ole Miss (6) vs. Miami (11), Oregon (7) vs. Alabama (10), and Oklahoma (8) vs. Notre Dame (9). The top four — Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia — get byes. That’s the luxury of being perfect or nearly perfect.What’s Next? The Final Countdown
The committee will release rankings every Tuesday through December 2. But the real clock starts ticking on December 7, when the final 12-team field is announced live from the College Football Playoff Selection Center in Grapevine, Texas. The first round kicks off December 20, and the path to the championship — set for January 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — runs through a gauntlet of conference title games. The 12-team format, now in its second year, has reshaped the entire season. No longer is one loss a death sentence. Now, it’s a hurdle. And for teams like Tulane, BYU, and even Virginia (No. 19), it’s a lifeline. The old playoff was a club. Now? It’s a party — and everyone’s invited.Why This Matters
This isn’t just about who plays whom. It’s about access. The 12-team system means more schools, more conferences, more fans have a shot. It means a team like Indiana — a program that hadn’t been ranked this high since 1988 — is now in the national title conversation. It means Alabama can’t coast anymore. And it means the entire college football landscape is more alive, more unpredictable, and more exciting than it’s been in decades.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Indiana stay at No. 2 despite a weaker schedule than Ohio State?
The committee values undefeated records above all else, especially in the Power Five. Indiana’s 11-0 mark, combined with dominant wins over Iowa and Purdue, outweighed Ohio State’s tougher schedule because they’ve been flawless. The committee explicitly stated they "reward consistency and completion of the season," meaning a perfect record carries more weight than a single loss, even if the loss came against a top team.
Can Tulane make the playoff without winning the AAC Championship?
Technically, yes — but it’s nearly impossible. The committee has never selected a Group of Five team without a conference title in the 12-team format. Tulane would need to win their final two games, hope for upsets in the Power Five, and have at least two teams with two losses drop out of the top 12. Even then, they’d need a major boost in strength-of-schedule metrics — something their current schedule doesn’t provide.
Why did Alabama drop so far after losing to Oklahoma?
Alabama’s loss wasn’t just a defeat — it was a collapse. They trailed 24-7 at halftime and only made it close because Oklahoma’s defense gave up two late touchdowns. The committee saw it as a sign of vulnerability. Plus, their only other loss was to Texas in September — a team now ranked 17th. Two losses to unranked or low-ranked opponents? That’s a red flag in the new system.
What’s the biggest threat to Ohio State’s No. 1 ranking?
Indiana. If the Hoosiers beat Purdue and then Michigan in the Big Ten Championship, they’ll finish 13-0. Ohio State’s only remaining game is against Michigan — so if Indiana wins out and Ohio State loses to Michigan, Indiana would have the head-to-head advantage and a perfect record. That’s the only scenario that can unseat them.
When and where will the College Football Playoff National Championship be played?
The championship game is set for Monday, January 19, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s the same venue that hosted the 2022 and 2024 title games. The game will kick off at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time and be broadcast live on ESPN, with a national audience expected to exceed 25 million viewers — making it one of the most-watched college sports events in history.
What’s the significance of the 12-team format compared to the old four-team system?
The old four-team format often left out deserving teams — like 11-1 Alabama in 2017 or 12-1 Ohio State in 2020. The 12-team system adds six more slots, giving conference champions from non-Power Five leagues a real shot. It also reduces the impact of a single loss. In 2025, even teams with two losses — like Texas Tech and Ole Miss — are still in contention. That’s fairness. That’s evolution.
