CFP Rankings Week 3 (November 18): Georgia Crashes the Party at #4; Texas Tumbles Out of Top 10

The College Football Playoff Committee released its third and most telling rankings on November 18, 2025, and the results sent shockwaves throughout college football. Ohio State and Indiana remain in the top two spots, but Georgia’s surge into the top four and Texas’s dramatic seven-spot plummet tell the real story: the playoff race is entering its critical final phase.

The Top Four Teams (First-Round Byes)

The committee has clearly identified four teams worthy of playoff byes with just two weeks remaining in the regular season.

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten)

Status: Defending national champions hold the top spot Last Game: 48-10 win over UCLA (dominant home performance) Path Forward: vs. Maryland, vs. Michigan Playoff Scenario: Undefeated team enters CFP as likely #1 seed

Analysis: Ohio State’s continued dominance keeps them at the pinnacle of college football. The Buckeyes’ ability to win convincingly against ranked opponents (while other contenders stumble) makes them the default top seed.

#2 Indiana Hoosiers (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten)

Status: Undefeated, surprising playoff contender Last Game: 31-7 win over Wisconsin (dominant conference road performance) Path Forward: vs. Northwestern, Big Ten Championship Game (likely) Playoff Scenario: First-round bye virtually guaranteed

Analysis: Indiana’s 11-0 record and perfect conference mark make them impossible to keep out of the top four. The Hoosiers have proven doubters wrong all season and earned their position through consistent excellence.

#3 Texas A&M Aggies (10-0, 7-0 SEC)

Status: Only undefeated team in SEC; just won historic comeback Last Game: 31-30 win over South Carolina (4 OT comeback from 27-0 deficit) Path Forward: vs. Samford, vs. Texas Playoff Scenario: One win clinches SEC Championship Game berth; two wins likely guarantee #2 seed

Analysis: Despite playing in the nation’s most competitive conference, Texas A&M remains unblemished. The Aggies’ dramatic comeback over South Carolina proved their resilience. The committee’s continued confidence in A&M (despite being in the SEC) reflects the strength of schedule argument and overall quality.

#4 Georgia Bulldogs (8-2, 5-1 SEC)

Status: BIGGEST MOVER: Georgia jumped into top four for first time Last Game: 35-10 dominant win over Texas (impressive SEC statement) Path Forward: Finished SEC schedule; postseason dependent Playoff Scenario: Cannot improve record; must hope others lose

Major Storyline: Georgia’s climb into the top four represents the most significant shift in the rankings. The Bulldogs benefited from Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma and Texas’s one-sided defeat to Georgia itself.

Why Georgia?

Dominant strength of schedule
Signature win over Texas (35-10)
Elite defensive performance
SEC pedigree and history
Limited losses to quality opponents

The Rest of the Top 12

#5 Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)

Status: Beneficiary of Georgia’s rise Analysis: Texas Tech earned significant respect with strong win against elite competition. Could be CFP contender if they win out.

#6 Ole Miss Rebels (8-2)

Status: SEC competitor still alive for title game Analysis: Tough conference schedule reflected in ranking. Win-loss record doesn’t reflect quality of opposition.

#7 Oregon Ducks (8-2)

Status: Pac-12 (or Group of Five equivalent) representative Analysis: Oregon’s strength of schedule concerns some, but they’re positioned well for at-large bid.

#8 Oklahoma Sooners (8-2, 4-2 SEC)

Status: ⬆️ UP THREE SPOTS (from #11) Last Game: 23-21 upset over #4 Alabama Path Forward: vs. Missouri, vs. LSU Playoff Scenario: Two more wins likely secure playoff spot; one loss drops to bubble

Analysis: Oklahoma’s rise reflects the value of winning on the road against elite competition. The Sooners’ upset over Alabama proved they belong among playoff contenders. Now the pressure is on to finish strong.

#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-1)

Status: Rare undefeated independent with path to playoff Analysis: Strong resume keeps Notre Dame in playoff position despite one loss. Independent status adds intrigue.

#10 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2 SEC)

Status: ⬇️ DOWN SIX SPOTS (dropped from #4) Last Game: 23-21 loss to Oklahoma (shocking home defeat) Path Forward: vs. Oklahoma (rematch scenario unlikely), other opponents Playoff Scenario: Must win out and hope Georgia loses to stay in conversation

Shocking Drop: Alabama’s six-spot tumble represents the steepest decline among major contenders. The home loss to Oklahoma—only Alabama’s first home loss since 2001—carries massive weight.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

Winners in the Rankings

Oklahoma (+3): Jumped three spots to #8 after Alabama upset Georgia: Entered top four for first time Ohio State & Indiana: Remained undefeated and held elite positions

Losers in the Rankings

Texas (-7): Texas tumbled from #10 to #17 after lopsided Georgia loss Alabama (-6): Dropped six spots after home loss to Oklahoma Oklahoma State: Fell out of top 25 after additional losses

The Texas Disaster: What Went Wrong

The Longhorns’ 35-10 loss to Georgia on November 15 represents a catastrophic setback for the Texas playoff hopes.

Why Texas Dropped So Far

Factor	Impact
Point Differential	25-point home loss
Conference Ranking	Fell to #5 in SEC
Remaining Schedule	Arkansas and Texas A&M
CFP Implications	Essentially eliminated from top-4 bye
Strength of Win/Loss	Loss to #5 team; loses playoff narrative

The Arch Manning Question

Arch Manning threw for 166 yards in the Red River Rivalry victory but was limited against Georgia’s elite defense. The question becomes: can Manning elevate his game against elite competition?

Manning vs. Elite Defenses:

vs. Ohio State (Loss): 170 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
vs. Oklahoma (#6): 166 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
vs. Georgia (#5): Limited production, Georgia suffocated offense

For Texas to recover, Manning must lead the offense to dominance over Arkansas and have Texas A&M stumble.

The Undefeated Teams and Bye Scenarios

Current Undefeated Teams

Three Teams With Perfect Records:

Ohio State (10-0) - Defending champs
Indiana (11-0) - Big Ten surprise
Texas A&M (10-0) - SEC powerhouse

Two Teams Close to Perfection:

Notre Dame (9-1) - Independent with impressive wins
Several teams at 8-2 or better

Bye Implications

With the 12-team playoff format:

Top 4 seeds receive first-round byes
Current top 4: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia
Seeds 5-8 will play in first round on campus

SEC Dominance at the Top

The SEC continues to showcase depth and quality, even as in-conference competition creates chaos:

Team	Record	SEC	Status
Texas A&M	10-0	7-0	#3 CFP, bye likely
Georgia	8-2	5-1	#4 CFP, bye secured
Alabama	8-2	4-2	#10 CFP, bubble
Oklahoma	8-2	4-2	#8 CFP, contender
Texas	7-3	4-2	#17 CFP, unlikely
Mississippi/Ole Miss	8-2		Bubble consideration

The SEC has four teams in the top 10, underscoring the conference’s overall quality.

Red River Rivalry Implications

The Texas vs. Oklahoma game (October 11, Texas 23-6 victory) is now viewed in a completely different context:

Then: Texas’s strong early-season win Now: Oklahoma’s trajectory has made Texas’s win less impressive; Oklahoma’s 3-0 record since suggests the result isn’t indicative

For Texas: The win is essentially worthless for playoff purposes For Oklahoma: The loss looks better as they’ve surged to #8

The Final Two Weeks: What’s Still to Be Decided

Critical Remaining Games

Week 13 (November 22):

Texas vs. Arkansas: Texas must win to stay alive
Oklahoma vs. Missouri: Oklahoma playing for bye spot

Week 14 (November 28):

Texas A&M vs. Texas: SEC West showdown with huge CFP implications
Georgia’s Postseason: Awaiting bowl destination

Playoff Cutoff Watch

With the current top 12:

Ohio State
Indiana
Texas A&M
Georgia
Texas Tech
Ole Miss
Oregon
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Alabama
(Next team)
(Next team)

Teams fighting for the 11-12 spots will have intense Week 13 games.

The Blue Blood Factor

The rankings reflect an interesting tension between:

Traditional Power Programs: Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia
Emerging Programs: Indiana, Texas A&M, Oklahoma (surge)
Consistent Excellence: Notre Dame, Texas Tech

The committee seems to value recent performance over historical pedigree, which is appropriate.

What Coaches and Analysts Are Saying

Dominant Narrative: “Four teams have separated themselves: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Georgia. The remaining spots are wide open, and the final two weeks will determine who else makes the playoff.”

Key Talking Points:

Alabama’s drop is shocking but justified (home loss is inexcusable)
Oklahoma’s rise is well-earned (beat #4 team)
Georgia’s entry into top 4 changes SEC Championship implications
Texas’s fall removes them from realistic championship contention

Predictions for Final Rankings (December 7)

Likely Scenario

Ohio State (if undefeated): #1 or #2 seed
Indiana or Ohio State (both undefeated): One gets #1, one gets #2
Texas A&M (if beats Samford + Texas): #3 seed with bye
Georgia (finished; awaiting results): #4 seed with bye 5-8. Remaining contenders: Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas Tech, Notre Dame, Oregon, others

Championship Game Implications

If A&M wins both: A&M plays Georgia or Alabama in SEC Championship
If A&M loses to Texas: Texas could still reach championship with win, while A&M drops
If Georgia-A&M SEC Championship: Winner is #1-2 seed; loser could still make playoff

Final Verdict: The Elite Four Are Set

The College Football Playoff Committee has essentially told us: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Georgia are the four best teams.

Whether you agree with Georgia’s presence over Alabama or Oklahoma is debatable, but the committee has spoken.

The remaining questions:

Can Texas A&M avoid the Samford/Texas trap?
Will Alabama or Oklahoma sneak back in?
Will any team crack the top 4?

Two weeks remain. Everything is still possible.

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Stay tuned for the final playoff rankings on December 7, 2025.