College Football Playoff Rankings Prediction: CBS Sports predicts first CFP Top 25

CBS Sports provided their latest College Football Playoff rankings predictions for tonight’s top 25 reveal. It’s the first of the season!

It’s basically Christmas time for college football fans right? There are some unbeatens, loaded Power Four conferences and intriguing Group of Five teams vying for positioning.

So without further ado, let’s dive into the latest College Football Playoff rankings predictions. We’ll start at the top.

1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes are 8-0 on the season, have a win over Texas and have rolled through Big Ten play so far. Penn State wasn’t the resume booster many thought they were going to be at the start of the year, but Ohio State has taken care of business.

As far as the College Football Playoff is concerned, Ohio State is the top dog per CBS Sports. The No. 1 seed is theirs to lose.

2. Alabama

Alabama getting the No. 2 spot shows the moxie this team has. Winners of seven in a row, the Crimson Tide very well might win the SEC.

It was all doom and gloom after a loss to Florida State to start the year. But, the College Football Playoff and SEC title is a reality months later!

3. Indiana

The Hoosiers are 8-0 on the year and other than close wins over a top 10 Oregon team and a tough Iowa team, they’ve dominated. Heck, Indiana has put up over 50 points in its last two Big Ten games.

Can they surpass Ohio State? If Indiana wins out and wins the Big Ten, they might jump the SEC champion as the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff.

4. Texas A&M

The Aggies are 8-0 right now, but it’s interesting they rank behind Alabama in the College Football Playoff rankings predictions. However, they have less ranked wins, at least according to the projected top 25, than Alabama.

A&M had a solid win over Notre Dame earlier this year but that LSU win looks less impressive, considering it got Brian Kelly fired. But, Mike Elko and crew could get a first round bye this year as long as they’re in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama (so it seems).

5. Georgia

The Bulldogs just edged out Florida last weekend to avoid disaster but are still 7-1 on the year. They have the head to head loss to Alabama, so they’ll probably be around this range for the College Football Playoff rankings.

But, their resume could certainly get boosted with wins over Missouri and Georgia Tech coming up in November. A first round bye is certainly in play.

6. Ole Miss

Ole Miss is a wagon right now under Lane Kiffin. They are 8-1 right now but have the head to head loss to Georgia.

A first round bye might be out of the question if they can’t make the SEC Championship Game. But, they are firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation right now.

7. BYU

BYU is unbeaten and leading the Big 12 as of right now. But Texas Tech is next up for the Cougars, which could shake up the conference and College Football Playoff rankings.

If BYU is 13-0 and Big 12 champs, they might have an argument for a first round bye. But it’ll be a strength of schedule argument against the Big Ten and SEC.

8. Oregon

Oregon has the lone loss to Indiana, which isn’t surprising at this point considering the Hoosiers’ prowess this season. But the Ducks aren’t out of the Big Ten race.

And if they’re not out of the Big Ten race, they’re not out of the College Football Playoff top four. But this is certainly a top 10 team right now.

9. Texas Tech

Texas Tech’s College Football Playoff hopes ride on winning the Big 12 most likely. The Red Raiders already have a loss and a second might eliminate them from contention.

Now, if they are 11-1 going into the Big 12 title game with a win over BYU, but lose to them in a rematch, there might be an argument to get into the field. But we’ll cross that bridge if/when we get there!

10. Texas

The Longhorns are back! That’s right, CBS projected Texas to get into the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night.

It didn’t look great earlier this year, especially with losses to a top Ohio State team and then a downtrodden Florida team. But they are now 7-2 with a win over a ranked Vanderbilt team and Arch Manning looks pretty darn solid.

CBS Sports College Football Playoff Top 25 predictions

11. Miami
12. Notre Dame
13. Oklahoma
14. Georgia Tech
15. Vanderbilt
16. Virginia
17. Louisville
18. Utah
19. USC
20. Michigan
21. Washington
22. Memphis
23. Illinois
24. Missouri 
25. USF