College Football Playoff rankings: Texas A&M falls to No. 7, with Ole Miss moving ahead; Alabama and Notre Dame switch positions.

In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, Texas A&M dropped four spots from No. 3 to No. 7 following their loss to Texas. Despite the fall, the Aggies remain securely within the playoff field and are positioned to host a first-round game.

Meanwhile, Alabama and Notre Dame exchanged positions. Alabama moved up to No. 9 after defeating Auburn, while Notre Dame slipped to No. 10 despite their victory over Stanford. This adjustment could have implications if Alabama falls to Georgia in the upcoming SEC title game.

The top of the rankings remained stable, with Ohio State and Indiana holding their respective positions. Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon, and Ole Miss each advanced one spot after Texas A&s defeat. Notably, Ole Miss faced no ranking penalty despite Lane Kiffins departure to LSU, as the committee opted not to weigh coaching changes in this round.

Oklahoma maintained its No. 8 ranking, sitting just ahead of Alabama and Notre Dame. While the Alabama-Notre Dame swap may appear minor, it could ultimately keep Alabama in playoff contention while placing Notre Dame on the bubble.

Alabama will confront Georgia in the SEC Championship. A close loss could result in Alabama dropping only to No. 10, potentially leaving Notre Dame as the final at-large selection. Teams from the ACC, American, and Sun Belt conferences remain outside the top 10.

James Madison, holding an 11-1 record, entered the playoff rankings at No. 25. If JMU defeats Troy in the Sun Belt title game and Duke overcomes No. 17 Virginia, JMU could realistically earn a playoff spot. The top five conference champions automatically qualify, making it unlikely that a five-loss Duke would be ranked ahead of a one-loss James Madison.

The American Conference is expected to secure a playoff team. Tulane (No. 20) hosts North Texas (No. 24) for the conference title, with the winner potentially surpassing James Madison and even the ACC champion in the final rankings.

Outlook for At-Large Berths

Teams like No. 12 Miami, No. 13 Texas, No. 14 Vanderbilt, and No. 15 Utah have slim chances of making the playoff, as none are playing in conference championship games this weekend. The committee has the discretion to re-rank idle teams, but no championship outcomes appear likely to elevate these squads significantly.

No. 11 BYU has a clear path: a win over Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game would secure a playoff berth for the Cougars and likely for the Red Raiders as well. Georgia remains nearly guaranteed a top-five spot, even if they lose to Alabama.

Teams such as Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma are stable in the top 10 and are all likely playoff participants. This leaves Alabama and Notre Dame on the bubble, with both hoping for a BYU defeat to strengthen their chances.

Could Alabama miss the playoff if they lose to Georgia? Possibly. Last year, SMU dropped from No. 8 to No. 10 after losing the ACC Championship but still earned the final at-large spot. If Alabama falls two positions, they could land at No. 11, potentially allowing Notre Dame or Miami to claim the final at-large berth depending on other outcomes.

Additional News

• North Texas has appointed former West Virginia and Troy head coach Neal Brown as the new head coach, succeeding Eric Morris.
• Rap artist Toosii has committed to play football at Syracuse as a wide receiver, shifting focus from his music career.
• California is reportedly targeting Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to replace Justin Wilcox.

Author: Sophia Brooks