SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 27: Julian Sayin #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes motions for first down against the Washington Huskies during the first half at Husky Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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The weekly Tuesday night College Football Playoff rankings update will start on Nov. 4, leading up to Selection Sunday on Dec. 7, 2025. Until then, here’s a look at where things stand after Week 9 of the college football season when it comes to the CFP picture.
College Football Playoff Format
Just like in 2024, the College Football Playoff format will consist of 12 teams during the 2025-26 postseason with a few changes.
The five highest-ranked conference champions will earn automatic bids. The four highest-ranked teams regardless of conference champion status will receive a top-four seed and first-round bye. Teams seeded 5-12 will play each other in the first round on the home field of the higher-ranked team.
The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable.
College Football Playoff Projections
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes currently hold the top overall seed as they head into the stretch run of the regular season. Ohio State took care of the Wisconsin Badgers 34-0 prior to the bye and should be fresh heading into Saturday’s home matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are in a great position for a College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season. They stayed undefeated with a 56-6 home victory against the UCLA Bruins with a road date with the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday.
3. Texas A&M Aggies
The Texas A&M Aggies are the top-ranked team in the SEC as the lone undefeated team in the conference when it comes to overall record. They ended the Brian Kelly edition of the LSU Tigers with a 49-25 win with another road matchup against the Missouri Tigers following the bye week.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide rallied off seven wins in a row since kicking off the season with a shocking loss to the Florida State Seminoles in the season opener. After surviving a major scare against the South Carolina Gamecocks 29-22, they’ll head into the bye with the LSU Tigers at home up next.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs’ lone blemish came in a three-point loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, but they’ve strung together three wins in a row. Georgia enjoyed a bye week after knocking off the Ole Miss Rebels 45-35 and will get the Florida Gators on Saturday in Jacksonville.
6. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks responded well to a home loss to the Indiana Hoosiers with victories over teams at the bottom of the Big Ten with the Wisconsin Badgers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights. They coasted to a 21-7 win over the Badgers, but things get much tougher when the Ducks travel to see the Iowa Hawkeyes when they return from the bye.
7. Ole Miss Rebels
The Ole Miss Rebels are back on track after losing for the first time this season against the Georgia Bulldogs on the road. They responded with a 34-26 win in another tough road matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners. Ole Miss will host South Carolina on Saturday.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The first mention of a non-Big Ten or SEC team goes to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as the only remaining undefeated team in the ACC. They hammered the Syracuse Orange 41-16 and will hit the road for a game against the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday.
9. Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores are a top-10 team in college football with another huge test coming up. After a loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Vandy took care of business at home against the LSU Tigers and Missouri Tigers with a road contest with the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.
10. BYU Cougars
The BYU Cougars are at the top of the Big 12 standings as the lone unbeaten team in the conference. They’ve found themselves in several close games this season including last week when they rallied back from a 14-point deficit to beat the Iowa State Cyclones in a 41-27 win. BYU will get a bye before a big one on the road with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
11. Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes started out 6-0 before a home loss to the Louisville Cardinals as they look to build another winning streak. They crushed the Stanford Cardinal over the weekend and will head out to see the SMU Mustangs on Saturday.
12. Tulane Green Wave
The Tulane Green Wave are the final conference champion in this set of projections. They were hammered in their biggest test of the season when they lost to the Ole Miss Rebels 45-10 but won the last three games. Tulane moved to 3-0 in the American by surviving the Army Black Knights before the bye with an upcoming trip to see the UTSA Roadrunners on Thursday night.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikbuchinger/2025/10/26/college-football-playoff-projectionsweek-9/