Biggest Takeaways from the First 2024-25 College Football Playoff Rankings

Biggest Takeaways from the First 2024-25 College Football Playoff Rankings0 of 6

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The first College Football Playoff rankings were revealed on Tuesday night, giving us our first look at the committee’s current projected field for the expanded 12-team playoff field.

Now it’s time for some immediate takeaways.

Here, we’ve taken a closer look at the five projected conference champions that would receive an automatic bid, the seven at-large picks to round out the field, the biggest snubs and the potential impact a Boise State loss would have on the Group of Five field.

There is still a lot of football to be played, and Week 11 action will have a direct impact on the playoff picture. But for now, we have an idea of how the committee is viewing the college football landscape.

Let’s unpack the rankings.

College Football Playoff Top 251 of 6

Oregon quarterback Dillon GabrielMichael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images

CFP Top 25

1. Oregon (9-0)
2. Ohio State (7-1)
3. Georgia (7-1)
4. Miami (9-0)
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pittsburgh (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)

The 5 Projected Conference Champions2 of 6

Boise State running back Ashton JeantyLoren Orr/Getty Images

1. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Miami
9. BYU
12. Boise State

No big surprises here, though it is worth talking about the relatively thin margin of error that the Big 12 seems to have going forward.

With Boise State sitting at No. 12 overall in the rankings, there is a real chance that if BYU fails to run the table during the regular season, the Big 12 champion will be leap-frogged by the Broncos and forced into playing a first-round game rather than having a bye.

The Mountain West leaders also have a loss on their resume, but it’s a three-point loss to No. 1 Oregon on the road back in Week 2. Since then, they have won six straight, including a home win over Washington State and a road victory over a good UNLV team.

The committee also still sees Georgia as superior to undefeated Miami even though the Hurricanes are undefeated and the Bulldogs lost to Alabama back on Sept. 28. Considering that Miami does not have to play Clemson, SMU or Pittsburgh in ACC action, that’s a reasonable take from a strength-of-schedule standpoint.

If Oregon can take care of business against Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington to wrap up the Big Ten slate, it should lock up the No. 1 overall seed.

The 7 Projected At-Large Selections3 of 6

Indiana quarterback Kurtis RourkeAdam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

2. Ohio State
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
10. Notre Dame
11. Alabama

One of the biggest questions heading into the rankings reveal was how the committee would view an undefeated Indiana team that has yet to face a ranked opponent this season. The committee mirrored the Hoosiers’ placement in the latest AP poll by slotting them at No. 8.

With No. 9 BYU earning a bye in this scenario, that means the Hoosiers would be playing a road game in the first round. Is that fair for an undefeated major conference team?

The Hoosiers offense has looked great this season with Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke under center, but wins over Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington and Michigan State do not exactly move the needle. Questions about their legitimacy will definitively be answered on Nov. 23 when they face No. 2 Ohio State on the road.

Beyond that, the biggest surprise here might be seeing Ohio State slotted ahead of Georgia. But with Oregon in the top spot, it doesn’t make much of a difference since the Buckeyes will be playing a first-round game.

The No. 11 spot makes it clear that Alabama can’t afford to lose another game, and a tough test awaits on Saturday. More on that in a bit.

Biggest Snubs4 of 6

SMU running back Brashard SmithMatthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

13. SMU
14. Texas A&M
15. LSU
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State

The five teams listed above were the five slotted just below the cut line. The biggest gripe of the bunch undoubtedly belongs to SMU.

The Mustangs just demolished a previously undefeated Pittsburgh team in a 48-25 blowout on Saturday night, and they also have a road win over Louisville on their resume. Their only loss came to BYU in an 18-15 battle during non-conference play, so there is no glaring blemish to drag down their case.

Clemson was No. 11 in the AP poll prior to losing to Louisville on Saturday. Would the Tigers have been in the projected playoff field if they had won that game? It’s a fair hypothetical to unpack, and if the answer is yes, then SMU should be above the cut line as well following Saturday’s impressive win.

Beyond that, it’s clear the Big 12 is only going to get one team into the field at this point. Iowa State suffering its first loss of the season in Week 10 was a dagger.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M, LSU and Ole Miss are all waiting in the wings as the SEC potentially continues to cannibalize itself. The Aggies and Tigers are two of the five teams with only one loss in conference play, so they still have a potential path to the conference championship game.

The Group of Five Picture5 of 6

Army quarterback Bryson DailyEdward Diller/Getty Images

12. Boise State
25. Army

The Boise State Broncos are the heavy favorites to claim the fifth automatic bid that goes to a conference champion, but with one loss already on their resume, any slip-up the rest of the way will open things up for chaos.

With Navy suffering back-to-back losses, Army has emerged as the clear No. 2 team in that conversation thanks to an 8-0 start, but the Black Knights do not have an easy path ahead.

A tough road matchup against Chandler Morris and the high-powered North Texas offense is up next on Saturday, and after a bye in Week 12, Army has a matchup against Notre Dame. The annual game against Navy is also still on the horizon, though that game will be played six days after the playoff field is announced on Dec. 8.

Who else is in the conversation if Boise State and Army both stumble?

Tulane (7-2, 5-0 in the AAC), Louisiana-Lafayette (7-1, 4-0 in the Sun Belt) and UNLV (6-2, 2-1 in the Mountain West) were the other Group of Five teams to receive votes in the latest AP poll. Those are the teams to keep an eye on as potential dark horses to sneak into the field.

Week 11 Games to Watch6 of 6

Jalen MilroeJason Clark/Getty Images

The biggest game on the Week 11 slate from a playoff projection standpoint is the SEC matchup between Alabama and LSU in what amounts to an elimination game for both teams.

If LSU wins, it will likely replace Alabama in the playoff field, or it will open the door for SMU to join the mix. Meanwhile, a Crimson Tide win would solidify their standing and send the Tigers tumbling down the rankings.

Beyond that game, there are some potential upsets to keep an eye on.

Ole Miss could throw a wrench into things with a win over Georgia, and that game will be played in Oxford. Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart is coming off a 515-yard, six-touchdown performance in a 63-31 blowout over Arkansas, so that will be one to watch.

BYU has a road game against a Utah team that was picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason poll. While things have not gone as expected for the 4-4 Utes, they could still play spoiler and open the door for Iowa State or Colorado to make a push.

Indiana faces arguably its toughest test of the season in a home game against Michigan. The Hoosiers lead the nation with 72.6 rushing yards allowed per game, while the Wolverines lean heavily on their rushing attack.

How will Week 11 action reshape the playoff picture? We’ll find out at this time next week.