Ohio State Tops 2025 CFP Rankings as Indiana Remains Unbeaten, Alabama Falls to No. 10

When the College Football Playoff Selection Committee unveiled its third rankings of the 2025 season on Monday, November 18, 2025, it didn’t just reorder teams—it reshaped the entire playoff landscape. Ohio State University Buckeyes (10-0) held firm at No. 1, but the real story was Indiana University Hoosiers (11-0) surging to No. 2, becoming the only undefeated team in the Power Five and instantly turning the Big Ten into a playoff battleground. The Texas A&M University Aggies (10-0) climbed to No. 3 after a dramatic comeback win over South Carolina, while University of Georgia Bulldogs (9-1) held at No. 4 despite a shaky performance against Florida State. The twist? University of Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2), once the perennial favorite, tumbled to No. 10 after losing to University of Oklahoma Sooners at home—a result that didn’t just cost them a top-four seed, but possibly their playoff life.

The Unbeaten Surge: Indiana’s Quiet Revolution

Indiana’s rise isn’t just about wins. It’s about dominance. The Hoosiers didn’t just beat their opponents—they buried them. They’ve outscored their last five opponents by an average of 32 points. Their offense, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers (yes, the transfer from Texas), has become the most efficient in the country, averaging 44.3 points per game. But here’s what makes it startling: they’ve done it without a single top-10 recruiting class. No five-star recruits. No NFL pipeline. Just scheme, discipline, and a defense that forces turnovers like clockwork. "They’re not flashy," said ESPN’s Greg McElroy during the broadcast. "But they’re the most complete team left." And now, with just one game left in the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry against Purdue, they’re staring down a potential No. 1 seed.

Alabama’s Fall and Oklahoma’s Rise

The loss to Oklahoma wasn’t just a defeat—it was a reckoning. Alabama entered the game ranked No. 5, riding a 20-game home winning streak. But Oklahoma’s defense held Bama to 17 points and intercepted two passes in the red zone. The Sooners, now 8-2 and ranked No. 8, didn’t just win—they made a statement. "Alabama falls all the way to the cut line at number 10," McElroy noted at the 102-second mark of the broadcast. "Oklahoma will be above them since they got that head-to-head win." That head-to-head win now looms as the most consequential result of the season. If Oklahoma wins its remaining games—including a showdown with Texas in the Big 12 Championship—they could jump into the top four. But if they stumble? Alabama’s door might crack open again. It’s a razor-thin margin, and the committee is watching.

ACC Chaos and the Last Hope: Virginia and Georgia Tech

The Atlantic Coast Conference, once a playoff afterthought, is now a wild card. No team has won the conference outright. No team has a clean resume. But two teams are still alive: University of Virginia Cavaliers (9-2) and Georgia Institute of Technology Yellow Jackets (9-1). Both are unranked in the AP Poll but sitting at No. 19 and No. 16 in the CFP rankings, respectively. "Duke is knocked out," McElroy said. "The ACC is still wide open. There’s still no clean cut path for anyone to get in." But Virginia, with wins over Clemson and Florida State, and Georgia Tech, with a signature win over Miami and a defense that held Clemson to 10 points, are the only ones left who can credibly claim a conference title. If Virginia beats North Carolina and Georgia Tech beats Georgia, both could enter the ACC Championship with a shot at the title—and a shot at the playoff.

Tulane: The Group of Five Paradox

Here’s the oddity: Tulane University Green Wave (8-2) is the highest-ranked Group of Five team at No. 24. But their resume? A 22-point loss to UTSA. And yet, North Texas beat that same UTSA team by 38 points. How? The committee values schedule strength and late-season momentum. Tulane beat UCF and Houston in back-to-back weeks. They’re 5-0 in conference play. Their quarterback, Quentin Johnston, has thrown for 3,100 yards and 28 touchdowns. But CBS Sports analyst Mike Golic Jr. called it "a statistical anomaly." "If you look at pure metrics," he said, "North Texas deserves this spot more." Still, Tulane’s win over Houston—a team ranked No. 23—might be enough. The committee has never sent a Group of Five team to the playoff. But if Tulane wins the American Athletic Conference, they’ll be the first. And the pressure is on.

What’s Next? The Final Countdown

The committee’s final rankings won’t come until after the conference championship games on December 7, 2025. That’s when the playoff bracket—12 teams, four byes, eight first-round games—will be set. The top four get a free pass. Teams ranked 5-12 play on the road. That means Texas Tech University Red Raiders (10-1) at No. 5, University of Mississippi Rebels (10-1) at No. 6, and University of Oregon Ducks (9-1) at No. 7 are all on the bubble. One loss, and they’re gone. Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Georgia? They’re safe—for now. But if Indiana loses to Purdue, or if Georgia falters against Georgia Tech, the whole order could flip. The committee has said repeatedly: "It’s not about records. It’s about who you are right now." And right now, nobody’s sure who that is.

The Bracket Math: Who Can Still Make It?

Here’s the reality: only four teams can earn a first-round bye. That means one of the top four will fall. Ohio State? They play Michigan on November 30. A loss? They’re out. Indiana? They play Purdue on November 30. A loss? They’re out. Texas A&M? They play LSU on November 30. A loss? They’re out. Georgia? They play Georgia Tech on November 30. A loss? They’re out. The stakes? Higher than ever. And then there’s the wild card: Texas (7-3, No. 17). The Longhorns still have a path—if they beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, and if Oregon loses to Oregon State, and if Tulane loses in the AAC title game, and if Virginia wins the ACC—Texas could sneak in as the 12th team. It’s a 12-step equation with six variables. But in college football, miracles still happen.