Ohio State Tops First College Football Playoff Rankings of 2025

Ohio State University received the No. 1 ranking in the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings released yesterday, setting the stage for a highly anticipated postseason tournament.

The Buckeyes were followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama in the top four, all of whom remain undefeated as the regular season enters its final stretch. BYU, also undefeated, landed at No. 7, while Georgia and Mississippi rounded out the top six – a strong showing for the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences. This ranking is particularly significant as it’s the first of six weekly releases that will ultimately determine the 12 teams competing for the national championship. The expanded playoff format aims to increase access and excitement for fans nationwide.

The committee also considered teams outside the top four, noting that Texas Tech and Oregon held the eighth and ninth positions, respectively. Notre Dame was the only team from a non-power conference to crack the top 12, landing at No. 11, followed by Texas and Oklahoma. However, under new rules prioritizing conference champions, teams like Virginia and Memphis could still secure a playoff berth even if ranked lower. Committee chair Mack Rhoades explained, “We felt like a separator there was defensively, and Ohio State and Indiana were better defensively.” You can find more information about the College Football Playoff structure on the NCAA website.

The first four games of the 12-team tournament will be played on the campuses of the teams seeded fifth through eighth on December 19-20, with the top four seeds receiving a bye. The championship game is scheduled for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium near Miami. Rhoades indicated the committee will continue to evaluate teams based on both record and quality of opponents, with the final rankings being released on December 6.