EAT OR BE EATEN: THE FIRST CFP TOP 25 IS OUT

Matti Tenney - November 11, 2025 

The first College Football Playoff rankings of 2025 have arrived, and while the expanded 12-team format is designed to open the door for more teams, the early message is clear: four teams have already started to separate from the rest. 

Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama hold the top four spots in the inaugural rankings, creating a clear early hierarchy defined by balance, defense, and big-game credibility. In the second season of the 12-team era, those four teams would currently claim the coveted first-round byes reserved for the four highest-ranked teams overall, a change from 2024, when byes were limited to the top conference champions. 

#1 Ohio State (8-0) earned the committee’s top ranking after another methodical, undefeated start. CFP chair Mack Rhoades said the Buckeyes’ physicality and consistency on both lines gave them the edge over their closest competitors. “When we looked at tape, we just felt like Ohio State had a slight edge when we think about offensive line play and a slight edge defensively,” Rhoades explained. It’s the same formula that’s carried them in recent seasons, a suffocating defense paired with deadly offense and disciplined game management. 

#2 Indiana (9-0) continues to be the season’s biggest surprise. The Hoosiers’ balance and discipline have been key, and their inclusion this high is a sign that the committee values complete, consistent football. While their biggest win came in Eugene against the then #2 Ducks, all season they have been scoring at will behind Heisman hopeful Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is completing over 70% of his passes, thrown for over 2,000 yards so far, and has 25 touchdown passes to just 4 interceptions. 

#3 Texas A&M represents a return to national contention for the Aggies, whose defense has quietly become one of the best in the country. A&M’s front-seven dominance and decisive wins over SEC rivals as the foundation of their rise. The Aggies’ key wins this season have mostly come on the road, beating Notre Dame, Arkansas, and LSU on their respective home turfs, and a big home win against Florida, who aren’t in the Top 25 anymore, but have taken down Texas and nearly defeated Georgia. They’ve proven they belong among the nation’s elite after years of falling short of expectations. 

#4 Alabama, a consistent playoff fixture, rounds out the group. The Tide’s resume isn’t flawless with an early loss to Florida State, but institutional trust still matters. Alabama’s tough schedule and defensive resilience have kept them above the fray of one-loss teams fighting to break in. 4 of The Tide’s wins this season have come against Top 25 SEC teams, which has further put them ahead in the rankings. The only

thing standing in their way of another SEC Championship is that Texas A&M squad, but Bama will not play them in the regular season. 

When it comes to the rest of the teams, it is close. All of the remaining 12 in direct contention for playoff appearances are 1 and 2 loss teams, the biggest question being Notre Dame who sit at 6-2. Georgia, Ole Miss, BYU, Texas Tech, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma are all fighting to move up in the rankings. 

Oregon in particular was seen as one of the first major snubs. Despite their explosive offense, the Ducks’ defensive inconsistency cost them in the eyes of the committee. Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and Georgia all remain in striking distance, but without bigger defining wins, none could crack the top four. 

The new ranking system ensures that those ranked 5th through 12th will host or travel for first-round games, a massive difference compared to earning a bye. That’s why the separation between the top four and everyone else feels more important than ever. 

One of the most surprising details from the first CFP reveal wasn’t in the rankings at all. Looking at the projected bracket, Memphis (unranked in the committee’s official top 25) still appeared in the CFP’s 12-team projection as the Group of Five representative. 

This is because the playoff format still guarantees one spot to the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion, regardless of whether they make the top 25. Memphis currently holds that position by default, illustrating both the opportunity and the limitations for smaller programs. That being said, Memphis’ projected inclusion is a technical win, not a symbolic one. It underscores that even with expansion, the Group of Five’s access to the playoff remains mostly theoretical. 

The first CFP rankings of 2025 show that even in the 12-team era, the playoff hierarchy remains top-heavy. Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama have set the standard, not just with wins, but with completeness and control. 

For teams outside that group, from Oregon and Texas Tech to unranked-but-alive Memphis, the message is clear: you’re in the conversation, but not yet in the club. Expansion promised access, but the rankings remind us that access doesn’t guarantee belonging.

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