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ESPN ranks Top 20 teams with highest chance to make College Football Playoff after Week 14

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10 hours agoBarkleyTruax

The 2025 college football regular season has concluded and conference championship games are set. With that, the College Football Playoff picture is in its final stages before the bracket is set.

This year’s CFP will look a little bit different, however, and will impact how the playoff picture works. The five highest-ranked. conference champions are once again guaranteed a bid, but there are no more automatic byes. Instead, the four highest-ranked teams in the final CFP ranking will receive a bye in the first round. It will follow a straight-seeding format.

Keeping that in mind, ESPN has re-ranked the top 20 teams with the best chance to make the 12-team playoff following Week 14. The list is ordered from most likely to least likely, according to the Allstate Playoff Predictor.

1. Indiana – 99%

Indiana is 12-0 for the first time in program history after finishing the regular season undefeated in 2025. In turn, they’re set to play Ohio State (12-0) in the Big Ten title game this weekend.

The Hoosiers have a Heisman Trophy hopeful under center in Fernando Mendoza and have shown no signs of slowing down heading into conference championship week. Regardless of the outcomes of their matchup vs. the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers are most likely going to be a top-four seed.

2. Ohio State – 99%

Ohio State snapped its four-game losing streak to Michigan during Week 14. The win — in Ann Arbor — is a monumental one for the Buckeyes and the final hurdle for Ryan Day’s squad on the way to an undefeated regular season.

Now set to face the Hoosiers to decide the champion in the Big Ten, Ohio State has its sights set for a second national title in as many seasons. The outcome of that matchup will likely determine the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP.

3. Ole Miss – 99%

Pete Golding will lead Ole Miss into the College Football Playoff. Most likely hosting their first-round game, all eyes will be on the Lane Kiffin-less Rebels during that matchup.

Regardless of the coaching situation, the Rebels completed their first 11-win regular season in program history in 2025. They’ve now won 10 games or more in each of the last three seasons.

4. Oregon – 99%

Oregon won’t play in the Big Ten Championship game, but finished the regular season 11-1 overall. This could benefit the Ducks, as the outcomes of conference championship week could see Oregon slide into the top four.

The lone blemish on Oregon’s record is a 30-20 loss to Indiana at home in October. The Ducks finish the regular season having won its last six games after the loss.

5. Georgia – 99%

Gabe Harris Georgia
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. (0) defensive back KJ Bolden (4) tackle Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (1) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Georgia is set to take on a familiar foe in Alabama during the SEC title matchup this weekend. These two teams met earlier in the season with the Crimson Tide coming away victorious 24-21 on the road.

They can avenge their loss with a win in Atlanta this weekend. A victory would likely secure Georgia with a first-round bye.

6. Oklahoma – 99%

Oklahoma wrapped up a 10-2 regular season that included wins against Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama and Missouri. The wins vs. Tennessee and Alabama came on the road in two of the hardest stadiums to win in during consecutive weeks.

The Sooners won their last four games to end the regular season. Three of those victories were against ranked opponents.

7. Texas Tech – 98%

Texas Tech has been the team to beat in the Big 12 for a large portion of the 2025 season, and that remains true heading into conference championship week. They’re set to take on BYU, a team the Red Raiders beat 29-7 on Nov. 8, on Saturday.

The matchup could very well decide the Big 12 Conference’s representative in the College Football Playoff. Though, the Red Raiders may still have a chance to earn an at-large bid bid even with a loss.

8. Texas A&M – 97%

Nov 8, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws a pass during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Texas A&M came up one game short of finishing 2025 with an undefeated regular season. It would have been the first time the Aggies started the season 12-0 since 1992.

Instead, the Aggies will keep their eye on a home game in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Despite starting the year 11-0, Texas A&M will not play in the SEC Championship game.

9. Notre Dame – 83%

Notre Dame will ride a 10-game winning streak into the College Football Playoff. The Irish had to win their last 10 games, and they did just that after an 0-2 start to the year.

Currently ranked ninth, the Irish are on the cutline to host a first-round game in the CFP. Led by star RB Jeremiyah Love, the Irish will be a tough task for any team to beat regardless of seed.

10. Alabama – 67%

Set to take on Georgia in the SEC Championship game on Saturday, Alabama would have three losses if the Crimson Tide comes up short in Atlanta. In turn, it would throw a major wrench in Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes.

From losing to Florida State in the season opener to winning 10 of the next 11 games, this year’s Alabama season had many ups and downs. The conference title matchup could make-or-break Kalen DeBoer’s second season in Tuscaloosa.

11. James Madison – 61%
12. Virginia – 56%
13. North Texas – 47%
14. BYU – 36%
15. Tulane – 32%
16. Miami – 10%
17. Vanderbilt – 6%
18. Boise State – 2%
19. Utah – 2%
20. Texas – 2%