ESPN predicts College Football Playoff 12-team field after chaotic Championship Weekend

Conference championships have been decided and with that, the College Football Playoff field is set to be announced on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of the bracket reveal, ESPN has overhauled its top-12 rankings following another exciting weekend across college football. They also predicted the 12-team CFP field.

It should be noted that the College Football Playoff format has shifted slightly compared to 2024. The first edition of the 12-team playoff the four highest-ranked conference champions were guaranteed a first-round bye, but that’s no longer the case. The first four seeds are instead awarded to the top four highest-ranked teams.

Additionally, being in the top 12 does not guarantee a spot in the playoff. The top five conference champions will still receive a bid to the field, which could pushing a top 12 team out. With that in mind, here’s how ESPN shook up its top-12 following conference title weekend.

1. Indiana (13-0)
2. Ohio State (12-1)
3. Georgia (12-1)
4. Texas Tech (12-1)
5. Oregon (11-1)
6. Ole Miss (11-1)
7. Texas A&M (11-1)
8. Oklahoma (10-2)
9. Notre Dame (10-2)
10. Alabama (10-3)
11. Miami (10-2)
12. BYU (11-2)

Alabama’s loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game brings up the question, does the Crimson Tide deserve to be in? Alabama and Georgia split their matchups this season, and the Crimson Tide beat Georgia on their turf in September.

At the same time, no at-large team has ever made the playoff field with three losses. Clemson made it last season with three losses, but got in as the 12-seed after upsetting SMU in the ACC title game.

The chaos of conference championship week has also turned ESPN’s projected bracket on its head. Five-loss Duke won the ACC championship over Virginia on Saturday, creating the possibility for two Group of Six teams to potentially make the field — Tulane and James Madison.

Bracket

First-round byes

No. 1 Indiana (Big Ten champion)
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 Georgia (SEC champion)
No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12 champion)

First-round games

Dec. 19 and 20

No. 12 James Madison (Sun Belt champion) at No. 5 Oregon
No. 11 Tulane (American champion) at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Texas A&M
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma

Quarterfinal games

Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 James Madison/No. 5 Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
No. 11 Tulane/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
No. 10 Alabama/No. 7 Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
No. 9 Notre Dame/No. 8 Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana