Predicting the second 2025 College Football Playoff Top 25, 12-team CFP Bracket

The second edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff rankings will debut on Tuesday night, when the selection committee reveals its updated look at things. But before that, On3 is here to offer some projections of what that might look like.

Plenty of teams have stated their case for a potential playoff bid at this point. And while there’s still a good deal of football left to be played, we have a pretty good idea who might rank where.

So who benefited from the last week of college football action and who was penalized? Here is our look at the projected second College Football Playoff rankings following Week 11.

A CFP Rankings Reminder

Keep in mind that the College Football Playoff format has shifted slightly this season. Whereas in the first edition of the 12-team playoff the four highest-ranked conference champions were guaranteed a first-round bye, they no longer are.

Also, simply being in the top 12 of the rankings does not guarantee a spot in the playoff. A power conference champion ranked outside the top 12 remains guaranteed a spot, while the highest-ranked Group of Six champion will also be guaranteed a spot in the playoff bracket. Those teams can potentially bump a team in the top 12 out of the bracket.

Projected College Football Playoff Rankings – Top 25

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)*

Ohio State is into a portion of the schedule where it would be surprising to see a loss. The going doesn’t really get tough again until the regular-season finale at Michigan. In the meantime, the Buckeyes have kept cruising.

The Big Ten title game will have a lot to say about who earns the highest ranking in the league — and with it a likely first-round bye. But Ohio State is certainly in position to make that happen.

2. Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)

Penn State pushed Indiana to the wire this weekend, requiring a Herculean effort from the likes of Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza and receiver Omar Cooper Jr. They put together arguably the play of the year in taking the lead with 36 seconds left to play.

That should serve as a warning of sorts; even Indiana isn’t immune to a close game here or there. Next up is a Wisconsin team that gained some momentum itself with a big win this weekend.

3. Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)*

Texas A&M significantly strengthened its College Football Playoff chances with a win over Missouri, on the road. It was the team’s third straight victory on the road, an impressive feat for a team that’s proving it knows how to win just about anywhere.

The next two games come at home against very manageable opponents: South Carolina and Samford. Get through those and a playoff bid is essentially guaranteed, even with the regular season finale against Texas still outstanding.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)

Maybe the hottest team in the country — and certainly one of the most well-tested — the Crimson Tide have come off the run of four straight ranked opponents and put together back-to-back unranked wins. Simply avoiding traps is a huge key in college football, and the Tide have done that.

The next game will be huge. It’s a date against playoff hopeful Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa. The winner of that one will feel much better about its playoff chances, though the Sooners will still have more work to do.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)

Georgia has quietly rolled up five straight wins. Its only loss is a high-quality defeat against Alabama, a loss that came by just three points. So the resume is certainly there for a playoff bid.

That said, there are still some tricky tests remaining. First up is a date against a desperate Texas squad. That one will have similar stakes as Alabama-Oklahoma. Then Georgia Tech looms at season’s end. Tough road still.

6. Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)

The fourth straight SEC team in this projected version of the College Football Playoff rankings, Ole Miss doesn’t have much left on the slate. For one, because there are only two games remaining.

This week’s home date with Florida could have some interesting storylines given the Gators’ reported interest in Lane Kiffin for its open coaching job. But the Gators are depleted roster wise. Get past that and only a road trip to rival Mississippi State stands in the way of a playoff berth.

7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)*

Texas Tech has some seriously strong results now, from knocking off Utah on the road in a blowout to taking down previously unbeaten BYU at home. Saturday’s win over the Cougars was dominant from start to finish, too.

Looking like the cream of the crop in the Big 12, we’ve currently got Texas Tech projected as the conference champion. That’s a change from a week ago, when BYU held that distinction courtesy of its unblemished record.

8. Oregon Ducks (8-1)

Oregon has played some tricky games in the last two outings, in part because the weather has been an abject disaster in both games. Still, the Ducks have managed to survive two closer games where the circumstances were less than ideal.

Can Oregon get back to blowing teams out going forward? That remains to be seen. The Ducks still have a little something to prove, though. They’ll get chances to do so, too, with games against USC and Washington remaining.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2)

Notre Dame caught a break on Saturday with Navy quarterback Blake Horvath missing this week’s contest due to injury. As a result, the game was never really all that close.

The Fighting Irish have a Heisman Trophy caliber running back in Jeremiyah Love, who has been superb in recent weeks. Quarterback CJ Carr is also playing very well. The path for Notre Dame is simple. It must keep winning. Up next is a road trip to Pittsburgh, which has been included in the College Football Playoff rankings.

10. Texas Longhorns (7-2)

Ever since its strong win over Oklahoma, Texas has been inching by its opponents. The last three wins have all come by a single score, though the Longhorns were blowing out Vanderbilt before a late comeback.

The scenario is simple for Texas, though. Just keep winning. That won’t be easy. Next up is a road trip to Georgia. And the regular season finale comes against rival Texas A&M, albeit at home. Any College Football Playoff bid here will be well-earned.

11. Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)

Oklahoma’s wins have not all held up great, but it matters not for the Sooners, who still have a very tough slate to close the season. With two losses already, Oklahoma probably can’t afford another loss. So it’s win out as the most viable path in.

We’ll find out this week whether Oklahoma plans to mount a serious bid. A road trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama will not be an easy one. And even after that, nothing is guaranteed, with games remaining against Missouri and LSU.

12. BYU Cougars (8-1)

Unfortunately for BYU its first loss of the season comes late in the year, where it’s a little harder to overcome. While one loss won’t be prohibitive, two might be at this point. So the pressure is on.

BYU has games remaining against TCU, Cincinnati and UCF, with the Cincinnati game on the road. Win those three and BYU would likely be safely into the field, but that’s not necessarily a guarantee depending on results elsewhere.

Rest of the CFP Rankings: 13-25

13. Utah Utes (7-2)
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (8-2)
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-1)*
16. Miami Hurricanes (7-2)
17. USC Trojans (7-2)
18. Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
19. Virginia Cavaliers (8-2)
20. Louisville Cardinals (7-2)
21. Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2)
22. Tennessee Volunteers (6-3)
23. South Florida Bulls (7-2)*
24. Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3)
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2)

* Indicates projected conference champion

First-Round Byes – College Football Playoff

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Indiana Hoosiers
3. Texas A&M Aggies
4. Alabama Crimson Tide

Again, unlike last season, the first-round byes are not guaranteed to the four highest-ranked conference champions. That means whichever teams are ranked 1-4 will earn a bye. We have the Big Ten and the SEC splitting this year’s first-round byes at the moment.

First-Round College Football Playoff Matchups

5. Georgia Bulldogs vs. 12. South Florida Bulls
   While Georgia remains in the same spot in this projection from a week ago, the opponent is new. We now have South Florida projected as the Group of Six’s highest-rated champion. But that projection is an absolute crapshoot at this point. That will be one of the more wild battles to watch unfold the next few weeks.
   
6. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
   We had Ole Miss taking on the ACC champion in this playoff matchup a week ago, and that remains the case today. However, the opponent has shifted after both Virginia and Louisville picked up a second loss over the weekend. Georgia Tech is now back in the driver’s seat in the ACC projections.
   
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. 10. Texas Longhorns
   Texas Tech jumps this week following its big win over BYU, putting it closer to hosting a playoff game when the season ends. This one would be an absolute dandy for the fans, a showdown of the two Texas powers in a campus game in Lubbock. Who says no?
   
8. Oregon Ducks vs. 9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
   Oregon bounces up one spot courtesy of BYU’s loss last week, which puts it in position to host a playoff game. This one would come against Notre Dame, providing fans with an excellent first-round matchup. Certainly one that would do numbers in the ratings.