College Football Playoff: Penultimate Official 2025 Projected 12-Team CFP Bracket
With the regular season in the books and conference championships awaiting this weekend, the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings came out Tuesday. That means the official 12-team CFP bracket was updated, as well, after the latest Top 25 was solidified.
There was a change toward the top of the bracket after Week 14. Texas A&M suffered its first loss of the year in the Lone Star Showdown, falling to Texas to close out the regular season. As a result, the Aggies are no longer in position for a first-round bye.
The projected 12-team CFP bracket is coming into form ahead of the final rankings reveal show on Sunday. Here is where things stand after the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 released.
First-round byes
No. 1 Ohio State
Following a win over Michigan for the first time since 2019, Ohio State held strong at No. 1 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings. The Buckeyes also punched their ticket to the Big Ten Championship with last week’s victory.
Julian Sayin impressed once again in last week’s victory over the Wolverines, throwing for three touchdowns in the effort. Now, Ohio State will get ready to take on Indiana in the Big Ten title game on Saturday.
No. 2 Indiana
After a historic 12-0 regular season, Indiana is off to its first-ever Big Ten Championship. The Hoosiers also stayed put at No. 2 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings entering the title game.
IU put together another dominant performance in the Week 14 rivalry game against Purdue, cruising to the 56-3 win. Fernando Mendoza has been a key part of the Hoosiers’ success as he makes his case for the Heisman Trophy, throwing for an FBS-leading 32 touchdowns so far this year.
No. 3 Georgia
Now up to No. 3 following Texas A&M’s loss to Texas, Georgia is getting ready for the SEC Championship once again. The Bulldogs will take on Alabama in Atlanta on Saturday, looking to secure a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
UGA handled the Clean, Old Fashioned Hate game against Georgia Tech with ease to complete the 11-1 season. Georgia is now looking for its third SEC title in four years when it takes on Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
No. 4 Texas Tech
Moving up one spot in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, Texas Tech is now in a position for a first-round bye. The Red Raiders are in the Big 12 Championship this week with an opportunity to clinch a top-four seed in the process.
Texas Tech handled its final regular season game with ease, taking down West Virginia in Morgantown. A rematch with BYU is now on tap for Saturday afternoon in the Big 12 title game.
First-round games (on campus sites)
No. 12 TBD* at No. 5 Oregon
The No. 12 seed is still in play heading into conference championship weekend. The fifth-highest ranked conference champion would take that spot, depending on how title games go across the country.
A rivalry victory over Washington kept Oregon squarely in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks went 11-1 during the regular season and will find out their fate on Sunday during the final rankings after missing out on the Big Ten Championship.
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No. 11 TBD* at No. 6 Ole Miss
Just like the No. 12 seed, the No. 11 seed is also up in the air. That will be filled by the fourth-highest ranked conference champion.
Ole Miss presented the most interesting case for the College Football Playoff committee entering the penultimate rankings. Lane Kiffin is now the head coach at LSU, and all eyes were on where the Rebels would fall heading into conference championship weekend. They wound up jumping a spot to No. 6.
No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Texas A&M
Once again, Notre Dame won out to close the regular season, taking a 10-2 record into the final College Football Playoff rankings reveal on Sunday. The Fighting Irish are clinging to a spot in the projected 12-team CFP bracket, dropping a spot to No. 10 in the penultimate rankings.
A loss to Texas knocked Texas A&M out of contention for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff and kept the Aggies out of the SEC championship. Still, they’re in strong position to host a first-round game, based on the penultimate rankings.
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma
A win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl helped Alabama stay in the College Football Playoff picture heading into the SEC Championship. But depending on how things go this weekend, the Crimson Tide are in an interesting position as the last team in the projected bracket.
It wasn’t always easy for Oklahoma in the regular-season finale against LSU, but the Sooners got the win they needed to strengthen their position in the College Football Playoff rankings. They appear in the projected 12-team bracket after the penultimate Top 25 and will await their final ranking.
First four out
Next four out
Following conference championship weekend, the final College Football Playoff rankings – and official bracket – will be announced Sunday. The show will begin at Noon ET on ESPN.