Penultimate CFP Rankings Unveiled: Ohio State Leads as Tech Surges to No. 4
College Football Playoff Penultimate Rankings Unveiled
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee has released its penultimate rankings for the 2025 season, setting the stage for the upcoming conference championships. Ohio State maintains its dominant hold as the top-ranked team for the fourth consecutive week, followed closely by Indiana and Georgia. Texas Tech makes a significant jump to No. 4, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s playoff race.
Shifts and Stakes Ahead of Championship Weekend
Texas A&M’s recent loss to Texas dropped them to No. 7, allowing Texas Tech and Oregon to climb the ranks. Notre Dame slipped to No. 10 after a narrow defeat, complicating their playoff hopes since they do not compete in a conference championship. Meanwhile, Alabama’s strong finish has boosted their position, intensifying the debate over at-large bids.
Implications for the Playoff Format
The rankings hint at a dynamic 12-team playoff bracket, where conference champions and top-ranked teams like Georgia and Texas Tech could earn first-round byes. Group of Six teams like Tulane remain in contention, illustrating the expanding competitive landscape in college football’s postseason.
About the Organizations Mentioned
College Football Playoff Selection Committee
The **College Football Playoff Selection Committee** is a 13-member group responsible for ranking the top NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams annually and selecting the participants for the College Football Playoff (CFP), which determines the national champion. The committee's primary task is to create weekly Top 25 rankings starting mid-season, culminating in the selection of the top four teams (until 2023) or top 12 teams (starting in 2024) eligible for playoff games[1][3][4]. Established in 2013 to replace the previous Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system, the CFP Selection Committee introduced a more transparent, human-driven ranking process. Members—who serve mostly three-year terms—include former coaches, players, athletic directors, university presidents, and journalists with significant college football experience[1][3][6]. The committee's methodology involves a detailed voting process with multiple rounds to prioritize teams based on criteria such as strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and outcomes against common opponents, while explicitly avoiding margin of victory incentives[2][4]. The committee operates within a broader organizational structure that includes a Board of Managers (university presidents and chancellors) overseeing policy and budget, and a Management Committee (conference commissioners and athletic directors) handling daily operations. The Selection Committee is independent and solely focused on rankings and team selections, supported administratively by a non-voting executive director and staff[1][5]. Key achievements include successfully implementing the CFP system since 2014, improving the fairness and excitement of college football’s postseason. A notable recent development is the expansion to a 12-team playoff format starting in the 2024-25 season, increasing inclusivity by including five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large teams, reflecting evolving college football landscapes and conference realignments[3][4]. The committee’s use of custom software and a multi-round ballot voting system exemplifies a blend of technology an
