The College Football Playoff Selection Committee dropped its third rankings of the 2025 season on November 18, 2025 — and the landscape shifted dramatically. The Georgia Bulldogs surged to No. 4, their highest spot since early October, while the Oklahoma Sooners made a stunning leap from No. 12 to No. 8, proving late-season momentum still matters more than early stumbles. The top three? Unmoved. The Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0), Indiana Hoosiers (11-0), and Texas A&M Aggies (10-0) remain locked in place, a trio of undefeated powerhouses that now look like the playoff’s inevitable front-runners. But beneath them? Chaos. And opportunity.
Georgia’s Quiet Rise
Georgia’s climb to No. 4 isn’t flashy — but it’s calculated. After their lone loss to Alabama in early October, the Bulldogs rattled off eight straight wins, including road victories over then-No. 10 LSU and then-No. 17 Florida. Their 9-1 record doesn’t scream perfection, but the committee noticed something else: quality wins, defensive dominance, and a schedule that’s grown tougher by the week. In the AP Poll, they earned 1,447 points, just behind Texas A&M’s 1,462. No one’s calling them invincible. But they’re no longer a team on the bubble. They’re a team with a path.
"They’ve done everything asked of them," said one anonymous committee member in a post-releases briefing. "They didn’t flinch when they lost. They didn’t coast. They kept winning — and winning against teams that were ranked. That matters more than a perfect record at this stage."
Oklahoma’s Late Surge
Here’s the twist: Oklahoma Sooners entered November with two conference losses — to Texas and Kansas State — and were buried at No. 12. Now? They’re top-10. How? They beat then-No. 15 West Virginia, then-No. 18 Baylor, and then-No. 21 TCU in a three-week span, all on the road. Their 8-2 record isn’t pretty, but it’s suddenly relevant. They’re in the Southeastern Conference now, after realignment, and the committee is treating them like a new kind of threat: a team that plays like a powerhouse even when they’re not supposed to.
ESPN’s system gave them 1,162 points in the AP Poll — up from 921 the week before. That’s the biggest single-week jump in the top 10 this season. And it didn’t go unnoticed. "They’re not just winning," one analyst noted on a November 16 YouTube breakdown. "They’re winning with style. They’re playing with confidence. That’s the kind of team you want in the playoffs."
The Top Three: Unshakable, But Not Safe
Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M are the clear leaders. But here’s the thing — they haven’t played each other. And they’re all playing their final games this weekend. Ohio State faces Michigan in Ann Arbor. Indiana takes on Purdue. Texas A&M meets LSU. One slip — just one — and the whole structure could crack. Ohio State has 61 first-place votes in the AP Poll. Indiana? Zero. That’s not a slight. It’s a signal. The committee respects the Buckeyes’ consistency. But they’re watching Indiana’s 11-0 record like a hawk. What if the Hoosiers win out? What if they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship? That’s the next chapter.
And Texas A&M? They’re the quietest of the three. No flashy offense. No Heisman candidate. Just wins. They’ve allowed fewer than 17 points per game since September. The committee loves that. But they’ve also played the softest schedule of the top three. That’s the dark cloud hanging over their perfect record.
Who’s Falling, and Why
While Georgia and Oklahoma climbed, others tumbled. The Louisville Cardinals, Iowa Hawkeyes, Pittsburgh Panthers, South Florida Bulls, and Cincinnati Bearcats all dropped out of the top 25. Why? Because they lost. Or worse — they won, but against teams that lost too. The committee doesn’t reward mediocrity anymore. They want winners who beat winners.
Alabama, once the No. 4 team in the first rankings, now sits at No. 10 after a loss to Georgia. Their fall was expected, but the speed of it? Surprising. They’re still in the conversation — but only just. "They’re the last team in," one analyst said. "But they’re not the team you want in the semifinal."
What’s Next? The Final Push
The next rankings — the last before selections — drop on December 7, 2025. That’s when the playoff picture will finally come into focus. The four teams that make it will play in the semifinals on December 31, 2025, at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The national championship? January 19, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Right now, the top four looks like: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia. But Oklahoma is breathing down their necks. Texas Tech and Ole Miss are both 10-1. Oregon is 9-1 and still has a shot if they beat Oregon State. The committee will have to choose between teams with similar records, different strengths, and wildly different resumes.
One thing’s clear: this isn’t over. Not even close.
Background: The Realignment Effect
Don’t forget — Oklahoma is now in the SEC. So is Texas Tech. So is Missouri. The 2025 season is the first under the new conference map, and it’s reshaping everything. The SEC, once a six-team powerhouse, now has 16 teams. That means more marquee matchups, more upsets, and more teams with legitimate playoff credentials. The committee’s job? Harder than ever. They’re not just evaluating teams. They’re evaluating a new era.
Georgia’s rise isn’t just about wins. It’s about surviving in a conference that now has six teams ranked in the top 10. Oklahoma’s jump? It’s about proving they belong in that same league. And that’s why this ranking matters more than any before it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Oklahoma jump from No. 12 to No. 8 in just one week?
Oklahoma won three consecutive road games against ranked opponents — West Virginia (No. 15), Baylor (No. 18), and TCU (No. 21) — all by double digits. Their strength of schedule improved dramatically, and the committee rewarded their late-season dominance. They also gained 241 points in the AP Poll, the largest weekly gain in the top 10 this season.
Why is Georgia ranked higher than Oregon, even though both are 9-1?
Georgia beat three ranked teams this season (LSU, Florida, and Alabama), while Oregon’s best win was against Washington State. Georgia’s defense allowed just 14.2 points per game in conference play, compared to Oregon’s 22.1. The committee values defensive consistency and quality wins over offensive fireworks at this stage.
Can a two-loss team make the playoff?
Yes — but only if they’re Oklahoma. The last two-loss team to make the playoff was Alabama in 2021. This year, Oklahoma’s path is clearer because they’re in the SEC, have four top-25 wins, and beat three teams currently ranked in the top 12. A two-loss team from the Big 12 or AAC wouldn’t stand a chance.
What happens if Indiana loses to Purdue?
If Indiana falls to Purdue, the playoff committee will likely elevate Georgia to No. 2, bumping Texas A&M to No. 3. Ohio State would still be No. 1, but the entire bracket would shift. Georgia’s resume would become nearly unbeatable, and Oklahoma might leapfrog Texas A&M for the final spot — especially if they win their final two games.
When will the final playoff teams be announced?
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be released on December 7, 2025. The semifinals are set for December 31, 2025, at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, with the national championship game on January 19, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Why does the committee care about conference realignment?
Because it changes the context of every win. Oklahoma’s 8-2 record in the SEC is far more impressive than it would’ve been in the Big 12. The committee evaluates teams within their current competitive environment. A win over LSU in the SEC carries more weight than a win over Kansas State in the Big 12 — even if both teams have the same record.