This Shocking College Football Playoff Bracket Will Leave You Speechless – Are Your Favorites in Danger?

The College Football Playoff (CFP) picture became a bit clearer this week with the announcement of the fourth top 25 rankings for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, November 25. However, it's important to note that this ranking is not the final bracket; the official CFP bracket will be revealed on Sunday, December 7. This iteration reflects the current standings based on the latest rankings and sets the stage for the upcoming playoff games.

The selection committee's rankings can often lead to some surprises. The playoff format allows for the five highest-ranked conference champions to secure automatic entries, regardless of their position in the top 25. This means that teams ranked lower than some others can still make it into the playoff, adding an element of intrigue to the selection process.

Current College Football Playoff Bracket

As of the latest rankings, here's a look at how the first-round matchups are shaping up:

• No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech
  • Winner faces No. 4 Georgia in the quarterfinals
• No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
  • Winner faces No. 1 Ohio State in the quarterfinals
• No. 11 Miami (Fla.) at No. 6 Oregon
  • Winner faces No. 3 Texas A&M in the quarterfinals
• No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Ole Miss
  • Winner faces No. 2 Indiana in the quarterfinals

In this bracket, the four highest-ranked teams—Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Georgia—receive first-round byes into the quarterfinals. Each of these teams is listed in bold in the rankings, while all other teams are italicized. The current top 25 rankings include a mix of teams with impressive records, as shown below:

1. Ohio State: 11-0
2. Indiana: 11-0
3. Texas A&M: 11-0
4. Georgia: 10-1
5. Texas Tech: 10-1
6. Oregon: 10-1
7. Ole Miss: 10-1
8. Oklahoma: 9-2
9. Notre Dame: 9-2
10. Alabama: 9-2
11. BYU: 10-1 (first team out)
12. Miami (Fla.): 9-2 (fourth highest-ranked conference champion)
13. Utah: 9-2
14. Vanderbilt: 9-2
15. Michigan: 9-2
16. Texas: 8-3
17. USC: 8-3
18. Virginia: 9-2
19. Tennessee: 8-3
20. Arizona State: 8-3
21. SMU: 8-3
22. Pitt: 8-3
23. Georgia Tech: 9-2
24. Tulane: 9-2 (fifth highest-ranked conference champion)
25. Arizona: 8-3

Notably, there will be no re-seeding of the bracket after the first round. The quarterfinals are set to take place at renowned bowl venues rather than on campus, which adds a layer of excitement and prestige to the playoffs. Scheduled for December 31 and January 1, the quarterfinals will be held at:

• Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas)
• Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida)
• Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
• Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)

The semifinal games are scheduled for January 8 and 9, with the winners of those matchups advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. If the seeds hold, fans can expect a thrilling showdown: No. 1 versus No. 4 and No. 2 versus No. 3.

Upcoming Schedule

For college football fans eager to mark their calendars, here’s the schedule for the playoffs:

• First Round (December 19-20) — on campus
  • Friday, December 19: 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
  • Saturday, December 20:
    • 12 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
    • 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
    • 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
• Quarterfinals (December 31 - January 1)
  • Wednesday, December 31: Cotton Bowl, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
  • Thursday, January 1:
    • Orange Bowl, 12 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Rose Bowl, 4 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Sugar Bowl, 8 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
• Semifinals (January 8-9)
  • Thursday, January 8: Fiesta Bowl, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
  • Friday, January 9: Peach Bowl, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
• National Championship Game (January 19)
  • Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN

As the excitement builds toward the playoff season, fans across the nation are left to wonder how each matchup will unfold. With powerful teams battling for their shot at glory, this year's College Football Playoff promises to be a thrilling culmination of an intense season.