The 2025 college football season wrapped up with a wild finish as the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee dropped the final rankings and the official 12-team bracket. This year’s selection process? Pretty chaotic—think big upsets, wild conference championships, and a whole lot of nervous fans. Let’s dig into who made the cut, how the rankings shook out, and which matchups are about to decide the national champ.
2025 College Football Playoff: The Final Rankings
The season kicked off with 133 FBS programs, all chasing that championship dream. Fifteen weeks later, only 12 teams are left standing. They’re set for the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The final rankings, revealed on the CFP Selection Show, decided who got in—and who’s stuck on the outside looking in.
Top Four Teams and First-Round Byes
The top four teams snagged a first-round bye, which means they’re heading straight to the quarterfinals. Here’s who locked in those spots:
- No. 1 Indiana (13-0)
- No. 2 Ohio State (9-0)
- No. 3 Georgia (12-1)
- No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1)
Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech all put together impressive seasons. They’ve earned some extra rest and a bit more time to get ready before their playoff openers.
Automatic Bids and At-Large Selections
The CFP committee handed out automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions. Here’s the rundown:
- No. 1 Indiana (Big Ten)
- No. 3 Georgia (SEC)
- No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12)
- No. 20 Tulane (American)
- No. 24 James Madison (Sun Belt)
On top of that, seven at-large bids went to teams with strong records and tough schedules. The at-large picks:
- No. 6 Ole Miss
- No. 7 Texas A&M
- No. 8 Oklahoma
- No. 9 Alabama
- No. 2 Ohio State
- No. 5 Oregon
- No. 10 Miami
Miami grabbed the last at-large spot, just edging out Notre Dame. Both finished with the same record, but Miami’s head-to-head win over the Irish tipped the scales.
Key Matchups and Schedule
The 12-team bracket is set, and honestly, it’s tough to pick a dull game. First-round showdowns are coming up on Friday, December 19, and Saturday, December 20. Quarterfinals will hit on Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1. Semifinals are lined up for Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9. The national title game lands on Monday, January 19.
First-Round Matchups
The opening round mixes up conference champs and at-large squads, making for some pretty juicy matchups. Here’s what to watch:
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 BYU
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Notre Dame
- No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami
- No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama
Every one of these games has big implications, with teams fighting for a shot at the quarterfinals—and a crack at the top four seeds.
Conference Championship Highlights
Conference championships definitely shook up the final CFP rankings. Some of the biggest results:
- SEC Championship: Georgia took down Alabama 28-7, locking in that No. 3 spot.
- ACC Championship: Duke, somehow, despite five losses, upset No. 17 Virginia 27-20 in overtime.
Teams on the Bubble
The final rankings left a few teams just outside the playoff picture. Notre Dame, at No. 11, was the highest-ranked squad left out. The Irish had a strong year but lost out to Miami for that last at-large invite. Others who just missed:
- No. 13 Texas
- No. 14 Vanderbilt
- No. 15 Utah
Safe to say, these teams will be hungry next season.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 College Football Playoff is almost here. You can feel the buzz in the air already.
Fans are counting down the days, hoping for those wild finishes and big upsets that only college football delivers. Will it be a familiar powerhouse hoisting the trophy, or could an underdog crash the party this time?
Curious about the final rankings or the schedule? Check out the official bracket and rankings on Sports Illustrated.
More updates and a bit of analysis are bound to pop up as the chase for the national championship gets underway. Can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.
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