As the dust settles from an exhilarating weekend of college football, anticipation for the 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket reveal is reaching a fever pitch. The selection committee faces a daunting task after a wild series of upsets and dominant performances during the conference championship games.
With the 12-team bracket almost finalized, nine programs are confidently in the running for the national title. A few others are still scrambling for those last coveted spots.
Let’s break down the key outcomes from championship weekend and what they might mean for the upcoming CFP selection. There’s a lot to unpack here, so buckle up.
Key Championship Weekend Results
The conference championship games delivered both expected outcomes and shocking upsets. Selection Day is shaping up to be dramatic, to say the least.
Here’s a closer look at some of the pivotal matchups:
Big Ten: Indiana vs. Ohio State
Indiana shocked just about everyone by upsetting Ohio State 13-10. The Buckeyes’ red-zone struggles cost them a perfect 13-0 season.
Indiana’s win locked up the Big Ten title and snagged them the No. 1 seed in the CFP bracket. That’s a twist few saw coming.
Big 12: Texas Tech vs. BYU
Texas Tech made a strong case for the playoff by decisively defeating BYU 34-7. The Red Raiders’ defense was relentless, forcing four turnovers and shutting down BYU after their first score.
This dominant showing punched Texas Tech’s ticket to the CFP. Can they keep it going?
SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
Georgia rolled over Alabama with a 28-7 rout in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs’ comprehensive victory over the Crimson Tide pretty much cemented their status as one of the nation’s best.
Sun Belt: James Madison vs. Troy
James Madison cruised to a 31-14 win against Troy, locking up their spot in the CFP. For the Sun Belt champs, this was a must-win—and they delivered.
ACC: Duke vs. Virginia
Duke edged out Virginia 27-20 in overtime to claim the ACC crown. With an 8-5 record, Duke’s playoff credentials are, well, a bit shaky—leaving the ACC’s representation in question.
Projected CFP Rankings
The latest projections, based on what the selection committee is likely to decide, are out. Here’s a look at the top contenders:
- 1. Indiana
- 2. Ohio State
- 3. Georgia
- 4. Texas Tech
- 5. Oregon
- 6. Ole Miss
- 7. Texas A&M
- 8. Oklahoma
- 9. Notre Dame
- 10. Alabama
- 11. Miami
- 12. BYU
- 13. Texas
- 14. Vanderbilt
- 15. Utah
- 16. USC
- 17. Tulane
- 18. Virginia
- 19. Arizona
- 20. Michigan
- 21. Houston
- 22. Georgia Tech
- 23. James Madison
- 24. Iowa
- 25. North Texas
Automatic and At-Large Bids
The CFP selection process involves both automatic bids for conference champions and at-large bids for the highest-ranked non-champions. Here’s how the bids are shaping up right now:
Automatic Bids
The projected five highest-ranked conference champions are:
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Tulane
- James Madison
At-Large Bids
The projected seven highest-ranked non-champions are:
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
Key Storylines to Watch
As the selection committee gets ready to unveil the final CFP bracket, a few storylines are really heating up. Here’s what’s on everyone’s mind:
Ohio State’s First-Round Bye
Despite losing to Indiana, Ohio State finished the regular season unbeaten. So, will the Big Ten runner-up still snag a first-round bye?
Given their overall performance, it’s hard to imagine they won’t, but you never know with this committee.
Alabama vs. Notre Dame
The committee’s recent move to put Alabama ahead of Notre Dame has stirred up some controversy. Now that Alabama lost the SEC title game, do they drop back behind Notre Dame, possibly shaking up the playoff picture for both?
Group of Five Representation
Tulane’s safely in the field, but Duke’s win over Virginia has cracked the door open for James Madison to sneak into the CFP. Could this mean the ACC ends up without a representative in the 2025 playoff?
Conclusion
The 2025 College Football Playoff selection process is shaping up to be wild. There’s a mix of powerhouse programs and a few teams nobody saw coming.
When that final bracket drops, people are going to have opinions—probably loud ones. If you want to dig into the projected playoff bracket, the full article on Bleacher Report has the details.
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