Indiana University has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in its football program's history. This achievement marks the end of Ohio State's 14-week reign at the top of the rankings. Indiana's rise in the standings comes after their thrilling victory against Ohio State, with a score of 13-10, to claim the Big Ten Championship on December 6, 2025.
In the updated AP rankings, Georgia moved up to the No. 2 position after defeating Alabama in the SEC Championship game. The defeat pushed Ohio State down to No. 3, while Texas Tech, which secured a 27-point victory over BYU in the Big 12 championship, climbed to No. 4. Oregon rounds out the top five, followed closely by teams such as Mississippi, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Miami.
The forthcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket is eagerly anticipated and is set to be announced at noon EST. A live update from The Associated Press will be provided during this announcement, detailing ranking predictions, game highlights, and responses from Top 25 voters. Given the new AP rankings, it is expected that Alabama will be on the outside looking in, while James Madison could find its place in the playoff for the first time, joining Tulane as a Group of Five representative.
If the CFP bracket mirrors the AP Top 25, it would likely feature the following matchups: No. 9 seed Notre Dame would face No. 8 seed Oklahoma, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 Indiana. No. 12 seed James Madison would take on No. 5 Oregon, with the winner moving on to face No. 4 Texas Tech. No. 10 seed Miami would square off against No. 7 Texas A&M, while No. 11 seed Tulane would face No. 6 Mississippi, setting up a matchup against No. 3 Ohio State for the winners.
The rankings are particularly noteworthy as Indiana becomes the first unbeaten team in major college football this season, finishing their campaign at 13-0. With their victory over Ohio State, the Hoosiers not only captured their first outright championship since 1945 but also snapped Ohio State's 16-game winning streak. Many expect Indiana to securely claim the top spot in the upcoming CFP rankings based on their impressive performance.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is facing challenges, particularly after Duke's unexpected overtime victory against No. 16 Virginia, which raises concerns about the league's representation in the CFP. Duke, with five losses and unranked in the CFP, could mean that the ACC finds itself without a representative for the playoffs. Commissioner Jim Phillips advocates for at least two bids for the conference: one for the ranked Miami and another for the conference champion, Duke.
As the clock ticks down to the bracket announcement, fans of Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami are awaiting their fates with bated breath. The previous week's CFP rankings had positioned Alabama favorably, raising hopes despite their loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship. Meanwhile, Notre Dame has been on a strong streak of ten consecutive wins, although their lighter schedule has raised questions about their inclusion compared to teams like Alabama and Miami.
Today marks a pivotal moment in college sports with the unveiling of the CFP's 12-team bracket, which signifies the beginning of the championship chase. There’s considerable excitement surrounding the final regular-season AP Top 25 poll, which may provide insights into potential changes just before the CFP announcement.
In terms of the voting process for the AP poll, it operates with a voting panel of around 60 sportswriters and broadcasters covering college football, arranged to represent all states with a Football Bowl Subdivision team. The ranking system awards points from 25 down to 1, based on how teams are voted, and the total points determine the ranking order. Voting is conducted online, and the tabulation is automated, ensuring a fair and transparent process.
