Indianapolis, IN – As Rivalry Week kicks off in college football, the latest College Football Playoff rankings have experienced a significant shift following a turbulent Week 13. With the release of the fourth rankings, adjustments were made to the projected 12-team bracket.
Oregon remains the top seed, maintaining its undefeated status and leading the charge as the projected Big Ten champion. Texas secures the second spot, with Miami and Boise State following closely behind in the rankings.
The Big 12 encountered unexpected upsets in Week 13, causing a shakeup in the conference standings. Arizona State’s victory over BYU added another layer of complexity to the championship race, resulting in a tight competition at the top.
Utilizing the fourth College Football Playoff rankings, each league’s highest-ranked team will represent its projected conference champion in the revised bracket. The postseason format includes first-round matchups taking place at campus sites, with the top four seeds enjoying byes. Quarterfinals and semifinals will occur at bowl sites, culminating in the national championship game scheduled for January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The College Football Playoff bracket is subject to continuous changes throughout November in anticipation of the final rankings reveal on December 8. Following the fourth Top 25 announcement of the season, projected conference champions are marked with asterisks in the standings.
Oregon retains the top seed in the bracket as the sole unbeaten team, preparing to compete in the Big Ten Championship. Texas secures the second seed despite a week of upsets in the SEC, needing a victory over Texas A&M to confirm their place in the title game. Miami remains steady at the third seed after a dominant performance against Wake Forest, while Boise State continues their impressive season heading into the Mountain West Championship.
The matchups for the first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket are set, featuring intriguing clashes between top teams. Arizona State faces Ohio State, Tennessee takes on Georgia, SMU challenges Notre Dame, and Indiana meets Penn State in critical showdowns that could impact the final bracket. With teams like Clemson, Alabama, and Ole Miss hovering just outside the top 12, the race for playoff contention remains intense as the season progresses.