Decision day: Oregon tops season’s first College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings

The first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings of the season were unveiled on Tuesday, and the Oregon Ducks emerged as the nation’s top team, much to the delight of their fans. The Ducks earned the No. 1 spot after a stellar season so far, including a victory over defending national champions, Michigan. As expected, the announcement stirred excitement in Eugene, though it may not have been welcomed by everyone in Oregon, particularly by rival fans of the Oregon State Beavers.

The most notable surprise of the rankings came in the race for the second spot. The committee placed Ohio State at No. 2, just ahead of Georgia, despite Georgia’s undefeated record. Ohio State’s only loss this season was a narrow, one-point defeat at Oregon, and the committee felt that setback was more impressive than Georgia’s lone blemish — a 7-point loss to Alabama, ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings. Warde Manuel, the CFP Selection Committee Chair, explained to ESPN that the committee placed greater emphasis on the nature of Ohio State’s loss.

The rankings were released on Election Day, creating an interesting parallel. In addition to the new 12-team playoff format, which is set to expand the postseason starting next year, the college football championship game is scheduled for January 20 — coincidentally, Inauguration Day for the U.S. president. This year’s expanded bracket will be a departure from the current four-team format, and the selection committee will work to determine the 12 teams that will compete for the national title in December.

The 13-member committee, which includes athletic directors, former coaches, former players, and a journalist, will continue its work over the next six weeks, ultimately selecting the teams for the expanded playoff. This year, the committee features six new members, but Manuel confirmed that the ranking process for the Top 25 remains consistent with previous seasons.

The committee’s Top 25 rankings are the first official set of standings for the season, coming after the preseason rankings set by the Associated Press (AP) and coaches’ polls. While the AP and coaches’ polls have been active throughout the season, the CFP rankings will hold more weight when it comes to determining the playoff spots.

Undefeated Teams Dominate Top 10

Oregon, ranked No. 1 in the first CFP rankings, has shown dominance throughout the season, including a resounding win over Michigan last weekend. The Ducks are heavily favored to continue their undefeated run against Maryland (4-4) this Saturday. Miami, with a perfect 9-0 record, takes the No. 4 spot in the CFP rankings, sitting atop the ACC standings. The Hurricanes will face Georgia Tech in an away game this weekend, with Georgia fans likely cheering for the Jackets to pull off another upset and derail Miami’s perfect season.

A surprising story in college football this year has been Indiana, which entered the season with low expectations but has shocked the college football world with its unblemished 9-0 record. The Hoosiers, under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, are ranked No. 8. Indiana was expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten Conference but has far exceeded those predictions. This weekend, the Hoosiers will face Michigan, followed by a high-stakes matchup with Ohio State on November 23.

Another undefeated team to watch is BYU, which was also expected to be a bottom feeder in its conference but has turned heads with an 8-0 start. The Cougars are ranked No. 9 and will travel to Salt Lake City this Saturday to face the Utah Utes. Additionally, Army, at 8-0 and ranked No. 25, is another team that has garnered attention this season. The Black Knights will face North Texas this weekend, but their biggest test will come on November 23 when they meet No. 10 Notre Dame.

Outside the Top 12

The teams just outside the top 12 are still very much in the playoff race, and the battle to break into the coveted positions is heating up. SMU, ranked No. 13, currently sits just outside the playoff picture but remains tied with Miami at the top of the ACC standings. The Mustangs still control their destiny and have a strong chance to make a push into the top 12 with a strong finish to the season.

Other teams on the cusp of the playoffs include Texas A&M (No. 14), LSU (No. 15), and Ole Miss (No. 16), all from the SEC. These teams are still very much alive in the race for a playoff spot, with the opportunity to climb higher if they can win crucial upcoming matchups.

With several unbeaten teams still competing for a spot in the new 12-team playoff, the next few weeks will be filled with high-stakes games as teams look to solidify their place in the postseason. The expanded playoff format promises to make the road to the championship even more exciting, and as the rankings continue to evolve, every game will have significant implications for the teams vying for a spot in the final bracket.