The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee just dropped the 2025 bracket, and, well, it’s already got people arguing. The big debate this year? Alabama and Miami are in, but Notre Dame’s out.
The rest of the 12-team field looks pretty reasonable, honestly. Let’s break down who made it, how the committee came to those decisions, and why Notre Dame fans are, understandably, pretty ticked off.
Top Seeds and Their Justifications
Indiana at the top? Yeah, that was obvious. They cruised through the regular season at 12-0 and then took down Ohio State for the Big Ten title.
They’re the only 13-0 team out there. No one’s really arguing about them being No. 1, and that’s fair.
Georgia and Texas Tech: Solid Choices
Georgia landed at No. 3 after smashing Alabama in the SEC Championship. Some folks thought they deserved a bump to No. 2, but the committee held their ground.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, grabbed the No. 4 seed after rolling over BYU 34-7 in the Big 12 title game. Both teams, honestly, look like locks.
Group of Five Representation
Tulane at No. 11 just makes sense. They’ve been the top Group of Five program for weeks and clinched their spot by beating North Texas in the American Championship.
At 11-2, with a win over Duke, Tulane’s résumé is solid.
James Madison: A Worthy Contender
James Madison sneaking in at No. 12 instead of Duke? That’s justified. Duke might be ACC champs, but 8-5 isn’t going to cut it against James Madison’s 12-1 season.
The committee went with the team that lost less and played more consistently. Hard to argue with that.
Middle of the Pack: Oregon, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M
Oregon, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M all finished 11-1, so their inclusion was pretty much a given. Oregon’s only loss was to Indiana, and they have solid wins against Iowa, USC, and Washington.
Ole Miss sits at No. 6 after losing to Georgia but beating Tulane and Oklahoma. Texas A&M’s early win over Notre Dame helped them snag the No. 7 seed.
Oklahoma: A Controversial Inclusion
Oklahoma’s defense is legit, but their offense has been shaky, especially since John Mateer came back from his hand injury. Even so, their overall record got them in, and now they’ll host a first-round game.
The At-Large Debate: Alabama, Miami, and Notre Dame
Here’s where things get messy: Alabama and Miami are in, Notre Dame’s out. The committee says they value strength of schedule, head-to-head, and how teams did against common opponents.
By that logic, Miami makes sense—they beat Notre Dame and finished strong. Alabama’s inclusion, though, is raising more eyebrows.
Strength of Schedule and Head-to-Head Results
Alabama did have a tough schedule, but their blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship is a pretty big mark against them. Miami not only beat Notre Dame, they also crushed Florida State—who, by the way, had already taken down Alabama.
If you’re a Notre Dame fan, it’s got to sting. Miami’s inclusion is defensible, but Alabama’s? That’s going to be debated for a while.
Did the Committee Get It Right?
The inclusion of Indiana, Georgia, Texas Tech, Tulane, and James Madison makes sense. Few would argue with those picks.
But Alabama over Notre Dame? That one’s got a lot of people confused. The committee’s logic on late-season losses—penalizing BYU, but giving Alabama a pass—just doesn’t add up for some fans.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into all the details, check out the full article on Bleacher Report.
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