Indiana tops the College Football Playoff field after defeating Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, securing the No. 1 seed in the 12‑team bracket.
Top Four Seeds and First‑Round Byes
The 12‑team College Football Playoff field is officially set for the 2025‑26 season. Indiana earned the top seed after a 13‑0 record and a championship win over Ohio State. The Buckeyes, who finished 12‑1, slipped to the No. 2 seed. Georgia, the SEC champion with a 12‑1 record, and Texas Tech, the Big 12 champion also at 12‑1, received the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds respectively. These four teams automatically advance to the quarterfinals, leaving the remaining eight teams to compete in the opening round.
ACC Controversy and Group of Five Inclusion
A major point of debate centered on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke, the ACC champion, finished the season at 7‑5, a record that did not secure a playoff spot. Miami, with a 10‑2 record, jumped into the top‑12 despite not playing a conference game, which led to the exclusion of Notre Dame, also 10‑2, after a loss to the Hurricanes on August 31. Because the ACC champion was left out, two Group of Five champions—Tulane (11‑2) and James Madison (12‑1)—were added to the bracket as the No. 11 and No. 12 seeds.
Full Rankings
The final rankings, unveiled on Sunday, are as follows:
- Indiana – 13‑0 (Big Ten champion)
- Ohio State – 12‑1
- Georgia – 12‑1 (SEC champion)
- Texas Tech – 12‑1 (Big 12 champion)
- Oregon – 11‑1
- Ole Miss – 11‑1
- Texas A&M – 11‑1
- Oklahoma – 10‑2
- Alabama – 10‑3
- Miami – 10‑2
- Tulane – 11‑2
- James Madison – 12‑1
Notre Dame (10‑2) and BYU (11‑2) were the first two teams omitted from the playoff.
Matchups and Schedule
With the top four seeds advancing automatically, the remaining eight teams face off in the first round. The matchups are:
- No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon
- No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
- No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
- No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma
The quarterfinals are set to take place in the traditional bowl venues:
- Cotton Bowl – Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Orange Bowl – Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Garden, Florida
- Rose Bowl – Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- Sugar Bowl – Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Semifinals will be held at:
- Fiesta Bowl – Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Peach Bowl – Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
The national championship will be played on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Garden, Florida.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana claims the No. 1 seed after a 13‑0 season and a Big Ten title.
- Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech also receive first‑round byes.
- The ACC controversy allowed two Group of Five champions, Tulane and James Madison, into the playoff.
The 12‑team College Football Playoff field is now set, and fans can look forward to an exciting series of games beginning on Dec. 19‑20.
Closing
The announcement of the playoff field has sparked intense discussion among fans and analysts alike. With a mix of Power Four champions and Group of Five teams, the 2025‑26 season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent history. The first round will begin on Dec. 19, and the path to the championship will unfold over the next few weeks, culminating in a national title game on Jan. 19 in Miami.
