College Football Playoff Rankings Update: Watch Tuesday’s Reveal Online
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the ultimate arbiter of the postseason. A 12-member committee seeds a 12-team bracket to determine the national champion.
This season’s rankings have set a big tone for 2025. They’re putting resume over vibe and making strength-of-record the main thing.
That shift has sparked heated debates about league depth and how injuries factor in. Every November upset now feels like it could shake up the whole picture.
The second rankings show, hosted by Rece Davis on ESPN, is coming up. Fans are pretty eager to see how the drama unfolds this time.
The Intricacies of the College Football Playoff
Table of Contents
The CFP committee, a 12-member panel, seeds the 12-team bracket that decides the national champ. Seeds matter—they affect byes, home games, travel, TV slots, and, honestly, bragging rights.
This year, the first CFP rankings really set a precedent. They’re all about resume over vibe and put a spotlight on strength-of-record.
This approach has led to quick arguments about league depth and injuries. Every November upset now carries extra weight.
How to Watch the Rankings Show
The second rankings show, with Rece Davis hosting, airs at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. You can catch it on ESPN or stream it on Fubo.
All ESPN programming is also on ESPN Unlimited. If you’re on YouTube TV, though, you’ll need a different pay TV carrier or ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service because of the Google vs. Disney dispute.
Week 11: A Turning Point
Week 11 shook up the CFP rankings. Three ranked teams lost to unranked opponents, including:
- Washington at Wisconsin
- Virginia vs. Wake Forest
- Louisville vs. California in OT
Oregon barely escaped Iowa thanks to a last-second kick. Texas Tech took care of BYU, and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love pulled off a highlight-reel touchdown against Navy.
Indiana stayed undefeated, but just barely, after a wild one against Penn State.
Surprising Projections
The Athletic’s model by Austin Mock dropped some surprises. Indiana, who started way down at No. 20, now shares the spotlight with Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Alabama.
Georgia, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, and Oregon are in the mix too, each fighting for a better spot.
The Bubble Teams
The bubble feels tense right now. Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, USC, Vanderbilt, and BYU are all teetering on the edge, hoping to break into the top ranks.
Teams like SMU, Georgia Tech, Duke, and South Florida still have a shot at automatic bids. They’re dreaming of a late-season surge, and honestly, who can blame them?
Upcoming Games and Schedule
The opening round will play out at the home stadiums of the higher seeds on Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20. The four neutral-site quarterfinal bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose, Sugar) are set for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The two semifinal bowls (Fiesta, Peach) are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9. The national championship game lands on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Committee Members
The committee making all these calls this week includes these folks, listed alphabetically by last name:
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- Chris Ault – former Nevada head coach and athletic director
- Troy Dannen – current athletic director at Nebraska
- Mark Dantonio – former head coach at Cincinnati and Michigan State
- Jeff Long – former athletic director at Kansas, Arkansas, Pittsburgh, and Eastern Kentucky
- Ivan Maisel – longtime sportswriter and Hall of Fame member of the Football Writers Association of America
- Chris Massaro – current athletic director at Middle Tennessee State
- Mack Rhoades – current athletic director at Baylor
- Mike Riley – former head coach at Oregon State and Nebraska
- David Sayler – current athletic director at Miami (Ohio)
- Wesley Walls – former Ole Miss tight end enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
- Carla Williams – current athletic director at Virginia
- Hunter Yurachek – current athletic director at Arkansas
The 13th member, Randall McDaniel, a former Arizona State guard and Pro Football Hall of Famer, stepped away from this season’s discussions for personal reasons. He’s expected to be back next year.
Future Rankings and Projections
Here’s when ESPN plans to air its “College Football Playoff Top 25” shows:
- Tuesday, Nov. 11 – 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 18 – 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 2 – 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 7 (final rankings) – Noon
Seth Emerson dives into the wild math that could put seven SEC teams in the Playoff. Scott Dochterman updates his bracket predictions every Saturday, which is honestly a lot to keep up with.
Stewart Mandel throws out 20 thoughts on the chaos of Week 11. Austin Mock’s model lands Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss in the top four—surprising, right?
Jason Kirk and Alex Kirshner break down the play of the year and the ACC’s Playoff headache in The Athletic’s college football newsletter.
You can check out the full article and get more details over at the New York Times.