College Football Playoff Preview: The Road to the National Title Starts Now
As December rolls on, the 2025-26 College Football postseason has officially begun with bowl season underway and the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff bracket set. After a wild championship weekend and a number of big regular-season storylines, four teams earned first-round byes while eight others will battle in opening-round games that kick off the race toward Miami on January 19, 2026.
Table of Contents
Championship Weekend
College football’s 2025 Championship Weekend was a historic slate of games that reshaped the national landscape, highlighted by a legacy-defining game in the Big Ten and a first-ever SEC title win for Georgia over Alabama.
The results officially finalised the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket, which begins this Friday, December 19.
Conference Championship Results
| Conference | Matchup | Final Score | Impact |
| Big Ten | #2 Indiana vs. #1 Ohio State | 13–10 | Indiana wins its first outright title since 1945; secures #1 seed. |
| SEC | #3 Georgia vs. #9 Alabama | 28–7 | Georgia beats Bama in the SEC title game for the first time ever. |
| Big 12 | #4 Texas Tech vs. #12 BYU | 34–7 | Red Raiders dominate to clinch a top-4 seed and first-round bye. |
| ACC | Duke vs. #17 Virginia | 27–20 (OT) | Massive upset! Duke wins the ACC, but is left out of the CFP. |
| American | #20 Tulane vs. #24 North Texas | 34–21 | Tulane secures the G6 spot in the Playoff. |
Big Ten Championship: #2 Indiana 13, #1 Ohio State 10
Indiana made history at Lucas Oil Stadium by securing its first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and ending a 30-game losing streak to the Buckeyes. The contest was a brutal, old-school defensive slugfest where the Hoosiers’ front seven dominated, sacking Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin five times and holding the nation’s top-ranked offense to just 276 total yards.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, who returned to the game after a massive first-quarter hit, found Elijah Sarratt for a 17-yard back-shoulder touchdown to take a 13–10 lead. Ohio State had multiple chances to respond, but a failed fourth-and-goal sneak and a missed 27-yard “chip shot” field goal by Jayden Fielding with less than three minutes remaining proved fatal. Mendoza sealed the win with a clutch 33-yard heave to Charlie Becker on 3rd-and-6, allowing Indiana to run out the clock, finish a perfect 13–0, and clinch the #1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.
SEC Championship: #3 Georgia 28, #9 Alabama 7
Georgia exacted revenge for its regular-season loss to Alabama by putting on a defensive masterclass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, securing its second straight SEC title and its first-ever victory over the Crimson Tide in a conference championship game. The Bulldogs’ defense was the story of the day, stifling Alabama to a historic minus-3 rushing yards and shutting them out through three quarters.
The game broke open early when Cole Speer blocked an Alabama punt, setting up the first of three touchdown passes for MVP Gunner Stockton. Stockton was efficient all night, finishing 20-of-26 for 156 yards and finding Roderick Robinson II, Dillon Bell, and Zachariah Branch for scores. Alabama finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter on a Ty Simpson pass to Germie Bernard, but the Bulldogs responded immediately to put the game away. This victory secured Georgia a top-4 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, officially ending Alabama’s long-standing hex over Kirby Smart in Atlanta.
Big 12 Championship: #4 Texas Tech 34, #11 BYU 7
Texas Tech captured its first-ever Big 12 title in dominant fashion at AT&T Stadium, scoring 34 unanswered points to secure a first-round playoff bye. After an early BYU touchdown, the Red Raiders’ defense, the nation’s top-ranked unit, smothered the Cougars, forcing four turnovers and limiting them to just 200 total yards.
The heart of that defense was Jacob Rodriguez, the newly crowned Bronko Nagurski and Butkus Award winner. Rodriguez lived up to his billing as the nation’s best defensive player, racking up 13 tackles and a tackle for loss to neutralise the BYU run game. Offensively, Behren Morton threw two touchdowns, and they tied a title-game record with four field goals to send the Red Raiders to the Playoff quarterfinals.
The Final 12-Team Field
| Seed | Team | Path to Playoff |
| 1 | Indiana | Big Ten Champion (Bye) |
| 2 | Ohio State | At-Large (Bye) |
| 3 | Georgia | SEC Champion (Bye) |
| 4 | Texas Tech | Big 12 Champion (Bye) |
| 5 | Oregon | At-Large (Host vs JMU) |
| 6 | Ole Miss | At-Large (Host vs Tulane) |
| 7 | Texas A&M | At-Large (Host vs Miami) |
| 8 | Oklahoma | At-Large (Host vs Alabama) |
| 9 | Alabama | At-Large |
| 10 | Miami | At-Large |
| 11 | Tulane | AAC Champion (G5 Auto-Bid) |
| 12 | James Madison | Sun Belt Champion (G5 Auto-Bid) |
Selection Controversy
The 2025 selection process will be remembered as the moment the “Safety Net” of the 12-team expansion officially failed. Despite the field widening, the final rankings produced a historic level of controversy, leaving several powerhouse programs and high-win teams on the outside looking in.
The Notre Dame “Farce”
The biggest story of the 2025 postseason is Notre Dame (10–2) becoming the first true “snub” of the expanded era. Despite winning 10 straight games and consistently being ranked inside the Top 10 for two months, the Irish were dropped to #11 in the final rankings.
The committee’s decision was rooted in a “head-to-head” debate: they chose to leapfrog #10 Miami over Notre Dame based on an August Week 1 result, despite the Irish having statistically better defensive numbers and a stronger late-season resume. Because two Group of Five champions (Tulane and James Madison) took automatic bids, Notre Dame was bumped out of the bracket entirely. In an unprecedented protest, Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua called the process a “farce,” and the Notre Dame team voted unanimously to decline all bowl invitations, effectively ending their season in a “Playoff or Bust” statement that has sent shockwaves through the bowl system.
Key Teams Left Out
Beyond the Irish, several other programs found themselves on the wrong side of a very thin bubble:
- BYU (11–2): The Cougars had a remarkable season but were penalized heavily for their blowout loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship. Despite having more wins than several teams in the field, the committee dropped them to #12, where they lost their spot to the lower-ranked Group of Five champions.
- Texas (9–3): The Longhorns finished the season strong with a rivalry win over Texas A&M, but their three losses—including a lopsided defeat to Georgia—proved too much to overcome. They were the first team listed in the “First Four Out” alongside Vanderbilt.
- Vanderbilt (10–2): In a historic season for the Commodores led by Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia, they finished with 10 wins but lacked the “signature” top-10 victory required to leapfrog the established brands of Alabama or Miami.
The “Alabama” Contrast
The controversy was fueled by Alabama (10–3) making history as the first three-loss team to ever make the College Football Playoff. The committee justified keeping the Tide at #9 (above both Miami and the snubbed Notre Dame) by citing their “strength of schedule” and the fact that their third loss came in the SEC Championship. Critics pointed out the inconsistency: BYU was punished and dropped for losing its conference title game, while Alabama was protected, leading to allegations of “brand bias” in favour of the SEC and the Crimson Tide.
The Top 4
1. Indiana Hoosiers (13–0)
Indiana completed a “fairytale” regular season, going undefeated for the first time in school history and capturing their first outright Big Ten title since 1945. Under Coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers transformed from a conference afterthought into a national powerhouse, built on a clinical passing attack and a top-tier scoring defense. The engine of the team is Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, who led the nation in touchdown passes (33) and provided the veteran leadership needed to navigate road tests at Oregon and Penn State. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Aiden Fisher anchored a unit that ranked 2nd nationally in points allowed, supported by standout receiver Elijah Sarratt, whose big-play ability made the Hoosier offense nearly impossible to scout.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (12–1)
The Buckeyes were the dominant force for most of the year, entering the postseason with the nation’s #1 defense and a perfect 12–0 regular season record. Despite a narrow loss in the Big Ten title game, Ryan Day’s squad remains a title favourite due to their overwhelming talent on both sides of the ball. Sensation Jeremiah Smith lived up to the massive hype, earning First-Team All-American honours and shattering school records for a wide receiver. Defensively, future first-round pick safety Caleb Downs was a repeat First-Team All-American and the vocal leader of a secondary that allowed less than 130 passing yards per game. The offense was stabilised by Heisman finalist quarterback Julian Sayin, an accurate pocket passer who finished as a Heisman finalist in his first year as a starter.
3. Georgia Bulldogs (12–1)
Georgia’s 2025 campaign was defined by resilience and “next man up” toughness. After losing veteran Carson Beck to the transfer portal, the Bulldogs turned to Gunner Stockton, who evolved into one of the SEC’s most efficient quarterbacks. The Bulldogs peaked at the perfect time, dismantling Alabama in the SEC Championship with a defense that famously held the Tide to negative rushing yardage. Linebacker CJ Allen emerged as the heart of that defense, earning First-Team All-American honours for his sideline-to-sideline range. The offence was bolstered by explosive USC transfer Zachariah Branch, who served as a triple threat in the passing, rushing, and return games, consistently giving Kirby Smart’s team elite field position.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (12–1)
Texas Tech reached the 12-win mark for the first time, winning the Big 12 title and securing a first-round bye. While their offence was highly productive under QB Behren Morton, the Red Raiders’ identity was forged by a defense that featured the most decorated player in the country: linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Rodriguez, finishing the season as the highest-graded defender in college football and the literal anchor of a unit that allowed only 10.9 points per game. Offensively, Coy Eakin served as the primary target in high-pressure moments, while running back Cameron Dickey provided the physical ground game that allowed the Red Raiders to blow out almost every opponent by three touchdowns or more.
Previews
#9 Alabama at #8 Oklahoma
The 12-team playoff officially kicks off with a high-stakes SEC rematch in Norman. Alabama enters this game seeking redemption after a humbling 28–7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship and a regular-season defeat at the hands of these same Sooners. Much of the focus is on quarterback Ty Simpson, who has struggled with consistency late in the season, notably coming off his least accurate performance of the year in Atlanta.
However, Alabama fans are looking for a spark from freshman sensation Ryan Williams. While he’s had a quieter statistical stretch recently, Williams remains a proven big-game player who has delivered highlight-reel moments in the Tide’s biggest tests. To help ease the pressure on Simpson and the passing game, the offense receives a massive boost with the return of starting running back Jam Miller. After missing the SEC Championship due to a lower-leg injury, Miller’s presence is expected to revitalise a ground game that was held to negative yardage last week, forcing Oklahoma’s elite run defense to respect the balanced attack.
On the other side, Oklahoma enters with momentum behind dual-threat quarterback John Mateer and electric playmaker Isaiah Sategna. The Sooners’ defense, led by linebacker Kip Lewis, will look to replicate the physical performance that stifled the Tide in November. The winner of this “Blue Blood” battle moves on to face #1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
#10 Miami at #7 Texas A&M
In what many consider the most intriguing matchup of the weekend, the Miami Hurricanes travel to College Station to face a Texas A&M team that was one win away from the SEC title game. Miami’s identity is built on elite line play, featuring an offensive line ranked 5th and a defensive line ranked 2nd nationally by PFF. Quarterback Carson Beck will need to manage the deafening noise of the “12th Man” while looking for true freshman superstar Malachi Toney, who has been one of the most productive receivers in the country.
Texas A&M, under Mike Elko, has been nearly unbeatable at Kyle Field this year. The Aggies’ defense, anchored by linebacker Taurean York, must neutralise Miami’s trench advantage to secure a spot in the Quarterfinals against #2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
#11 Tulane at #6 Ole Miss
This game features the first of two Group of Five “party crashers” in the new 12-team format. Tulane enters as the #11 seed after winning the American Athletic Conference, facing an Ole Miss team that is navigating a sudden coaching transition following Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU. Despite the noise surrounding the program, the Rebels remain dangerous behind QB Trinidad Chambliss, who leads an offense that is rolling and almost unstoppable.
Tulane will rely on their transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff who as had a remarkable year passing for over 2,800 whilst also leading the team in rushing with over 600 yards and 16 TDs, and defensive toughness to keep things close, but they must contain an Ole Miss passing attack that previously beat them 45-10 in September. The victor earns a date with #3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
#12 James Madison at #5 Oregon
The first round concludes with the Sun Belt Champion James Madison Dukes travelling to face the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Oregon, led by QB Dante Moore and triple threat receiving core of Malik Benson, Kenyon Sadiq and Dakorien Moore. The Ducks go into this matchup as a massive favourite after finishing the regular season 11-1. The Dukes, however, enter the playoff with a “nothing to lose” mentality and a defence that ranks in the top 10 nationally against the run.
For JMU to pull off the unthinkable upset, they must find a way to slow down Oregon’s lightning-fast tempo and force turnovers. For the Ducks, this game is about re-establishing dominance after being jumped by Indiana for the top seed. The winner advances to the Orange Bowl to face #4 Texas Tech.
Bottom Line
Championship weekend didn’t end the conversation it sharpened it. Indiana’s narrow win over Ohio State didn’t just earn a trophy; it handed the Hoosiers control of the entire postseason, shifting pressure onto everyone else chasing them. Georgia and Texas Tech emerge rested and dangerous, blockbuster matchups in the first round of the playoffs, and the teams left outside the gate are watching with resentment. Now the playoff begins, where college football is at its most ruthless: no margins, no safety nets, only games that decide seasons, reputations, and history. The bracket is set, and the calm before the storm is officially over.
