The first College Football Playoff rankings have been released, outlining a projected 12-team bracket with Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Alabama as the top seeds. The reigning champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, are ranked first with an 8-0 start, reflecting their dominance this season. Indiana, under coach Curt Cignetti, has been a standout with a 9-0 record, led by Heisman candidate quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The rankings feature several strong performances from Power Four conferences, including Alabama at No. 4 and Georgia at No. 5, securing the top four seeds for a first-round bye. Other notable teams include Texas A&M at No. 3 and BYU at No. 7, which leads the Big 12 with a perfect 8-0 record. The seeding model for this season is a straight seeding system, meaning the top four teams in the final rankings will receive an automatic first-round bye, regardless of conference affiliation.
The bracket will be finalized on December 7, following the conclusion of all conference championship games. While this is the first of several rankings, the current seeding will influence the initial matchups, with Memphis facing Georgia and Notre Dame challenging BYU in the opening round. The College Football Playoff committee’s new approach emphasizes a balanced bracket, ensuring representation from all Power Four conferences and the Group of Five with Memphis as the top Group of Five team.