college Football Playoff Rankings: ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M Remain Atop, Alabama Slides
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The latest College Football Playoff rankings, released on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, reveal a shifting landscape as the postseason picture begins to take shape. Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M continue to hold the top three positions, while a significant upset has shaken up the rankings for Alabama, who fell six spots to No.10 following a loss to Oklahoma.
Crimson Tide’s Stumble Opens Door for Notre Dame, Georgia
Alabama’s defeat has allowed Notre Dame to climb to No. 9, despite possessing fewer top-25 victories (one) than the Crimson Tide (four). A notable rise also occured for Georgia, which moved up to No. 4 after defeating Alabama earlier in the season. The Bulldogs’ ascent underscores the volatility within the top tier of college football.
Top 10 Shakeup: Texas Tech and Oklahoma Surge
Beyond Georgia’s jump, Texas Tech ascended to No. 5,Ole Miss to No. 6, Oregon to no. 7, and Oklahoma climbed three spots to No. 8 after a 23-21 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. These movements demonstrate the impact of head-to-head results and the increasing competitiveness of several conferences.
The Middle Ground: BYU to USC
The rankings from No. 11 to No. 15 feature BYU (No. 11), Utah (No. 12), Miami (No. 13), Vanderbilt (No. 14), and USC (No. 15). Miami benefited from a 41-7 win over NC State, jumping two spots, but remains four positions behind Notre Dame – a disparity fueling debate within the ACC.
Miami vs. Notre Dame: The Head-to-Head Debate
The debate surrounding Miami and Notre Dame centers on the interpretation of head-to-head results. Both teams currently hold an 8-2 record, but Miami secured a 27-24 victory over Notre Dame earlier in the season. As one analyst noted, “The No. 1 criteria is always head-to-head. It’s why we play the game,right? That always has been and always will be the No. 1 factor.” Though, the committee has indicated a nuanced approach.
According to the new chair of the selection committee, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek, “We really haven’t compared those teams” at this stage. He added that and Virginia are poised to compete for the ACC championship, with Georgia Tech holding a 35.3% chance of winning the conference and Virginia at 32.7%, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). For Miami to reach the ACC title game, a complex scenario involving multiple losses from competitors must unfold.
Despite Alabama’s recent loss, the Crimson Tide maintain a 71% chance of reaching the SEC championship game, which would virtually guarantee a playoff berth. A win for Texas A&M over Texas next weekend would secure the Aggies’ spot in Atlanta.
The final CFP rankings will be announced on December 7, 2025, following the conclusion of the conference championship games. The national championship game is scheduled for January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in miami Gardens, Florida.
