2025 College Football Playoff Predictions: Projecting the 12-team CFP field, National Champions

The second season of the 12-team College Football Playoff era is set to get underway in just a few weeks. With the preseason AP Top 25 Poll coming even sooner, fans are already debating how this season’s CFP will shake up.

Notably, this season’s College Football Playoff format will move to a straight-seeding model, meaning the top four teams in the final CFP rankings will receive a first-round bye. The changes were made after the selection committee faced criticism for last season’s conference champion-friendly format.

Ahead of the 2025 regular season, On3’s JD PicKell predicted his 2025 College Football Playoff projections. The On3 analyst’s predicted bids from each conference break down as follows: SEC (5), Big Ten (3), ACC (1), Big 12 (1), Sun Belt (1), Independent (1). Here’s how the bracket stacks up.

First Round Byes:
No. 1 seed – LSU Tigers

This would be LSU’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff under head coach Brian Kelly. Coming in as the top overall seed would silence any critics talking about him on the hot seat this preseason.

The Tigers appeared in position to find themselves in the CFP conversation following a 6-1 start. However, they dropped three games in a row. They finished the season 9-4, but in the end it was too late for them to find their way back inside the projected field of 12. PicKell doesn’t see this being an issue in 2025.

No. 2 seed – Ohio State Buckeyes

Last year’s nation champions, the Buckeyes find themselves right back in the conversation as potential repeat champions during the first two years of this expanded playoff format. However, they’ll have to do so with a new quarterback under center.

Julian Sayin is still expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten despite his inexperience. A former five-star recruit, he’ll be asked to play some big-time college football right away as a starter against Texas in Week 1. It will be a good chance to gauge his skills against the likes of SEC defenders.

No. 3 seed – Clemson Tigers

Clemson snuck its way into last year’s College Football Playoff. The first team to ever make the playoff with three losses during the regular season, all signs point toward the Tigers being one of college football’s elite teams in 2025.

They’re backed by arguably the best quarterback in college football in Cade Klubnik, who is coming off a monster junior season in 2024. He returned to Death Valley for one reason, and will be looking to help Clemson secure its spot in consecutive playoffs.

No. 4 seed – Texas Longhorns

Texas has been one game away from the national championship in each of the last two years. Last season’s run was ended in heartbreaking fashion against eventual champions Ohio State. The Longhorns will be hoping to break through that ceiling in 2025.

However, PicKell’s four-seed designation for Texas means that the SEC has two of the top four seeds, which is now possible under the new straight-seeding model the playoff committee approved this offseason. It also suggests that Texas will lose to LSU in the SEC title game.

First-Round Matchups (Campus Sites):
No. 9 seed Alabama at No. 8 seed Georgia

It goes without saying, but would be the headlining game for the first round of the CFP. Georgia already hosts Alabama during Week 5 (Sept. 27) this fall, and for them to do so again in December would be considered the biggest first-round game since the field expanded to 12 before last season.

The outcome of September’s matchup will mean little at this point. Both teams will likely be improved following their first meeting as the winner would move on to face the No. 1 overall seed.

No. 12 seed James Madison at No. 5 seed Oregon

James Madison becomes the 12-seed as the fifth-highest ranked conference champion by PicKell’s estimation. In three seasons at the Division I level, the Dukes have won at least eight games every year, and could take the next step this fall.

However, PicKell’s predicted C-USA champions face still competition right out of the gates in the first round — a road game at Oregon. Last season’s top overall seed is expected to be right back in the mix in the Big Ten and subsequently, the College Football Playoff.

No. 11 seed Notre Dame at No. 6 seed Penn State

This will be a rematch of last season’s Orange Bowl. Notre Dame emerged victorious in last season’s meeting in the CFP 27-24 after the Irish came back from a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter to overcome the Nittany Lions.

Penn State will be looking for revenge in this meeting. The Nittany Lions are aided by home field advantage, which they didn’t have in last season’s neutral national semifinal.

No. 10 seed Baylor at No. 7 seed Texas A&M

A rivalry renewed in the College Football Playoff is a storyline that writes itself. The Battle of the Brazos has been played 108 times in history with the final installment coming in 2011 before the Aggies left the Big 12.

Texas A&M leads the all-time series 68–31–9, including the last three matchups. However, it’s been a long time since these two programs have locked horns on the gridiron, and would make for a compelling game if it were to happen.

Predicted National Champion

According to JD PicKell, the LSU Tigers are set to run the table in the College Football Playoff and secure its first title under head coach Brian Kelly. He picks them to do so as the No. 1 overall seed in the field of 12.

With a top seed, that would likely mean the Tigers enter the CFP as SEC Champions. PicKell has LSU defeating the likes of Alabama (9-seed), Oregon (5-seed) and Ohio State (2-seed) in the national championship gane.