— The latest College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday, kept Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia and Texas Tech in the top five while Oregon moved past Ole Miss after beating USC. The Ducks climbed to No. 6 and the Rebels fell to No. 7, marking the only change inside the top 10 from last week. The update arrives as Rivalry Week begins, with multiple games that could reshape the final field before selections conclude in early December. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek highlighted Oregon’s improving strength of schedule as a driving factor behind the move.
Key takeaways
- Top five unchanged: Ohio State (No. 1), Indiana (No. 2), Texas A&M (No. 3), Georgia (No. 4) and Texas Tech (No. 5) remain the top five in the Nov. 25 CFP rankings.
- Oregon up, Ole Miss down: The Ducks rose to No. 6 after defeating USC; Ole Miss fell to No. 7 — the lone shift inside the top 10.
- Next tier and movement: Oklahoma is No. 8, Notre Dame No. 9, Alabama No. 10 and BYU No. 11; Michigan jumped three spots to No. 15 and Vanderbilt held at No. 14.
- Bubble teams and newcomers: Miami moved to No. 12 and Utah dropped to No. 13; SMU entered the rankings at No. 21 with Pitt, Georgia Tech, Tulane and Arizona following.
- Rivalry Week implications: Key matchups include Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State (Egg Bowl), Texas A&M at Texas, Alabama at Auburn and No. 15 Michigan vs. No. 1 Ohio State — all with potential CFP ramifications.
- Committee protocol note: The selection committee can consider losses of coaches or players when ranking teams; a coach departure could factor into Ole Miss’s evaluation if it occurs before final rankings.
- Format and timeline: The 12-team field will include the five highest-ranked conference champions and use straight seeding; final CFP rankings are due Dec. 7 with the national title game set for Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens.
Background
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its weekly rankings on Nov. 25, 2025, at a point when traditional conference races and rivalry games are determining postseason trajectories. This season’s format awards the five highest-ranked conference champions automatic berths in the 12-team field, while the committee has adopted straight seeding so the top four in the final ranking receive first-round byes. Those procedural choices place premium importance on late-season wins and the timing of signature victories.
Oregon’s ascent is notable in context: the committee has emphasized strength of schedule and high-quality wins when differentiating closely ranked teams. The Ducks’ victory over USC provided the kind of marquee result the committee has signaled it wants to see before elevating teams. Conversely, Ole Miss’s position slipped by one spot even though it remains firmly inside the top 10, illustrating how tight margins are among contenders.
Rivalry Week traditionally produces dramatic swing results that alter the playoff picture. Coaches’ futures, injuries, and head-to-head outcomes are all variables the committee may weigh when assembling the final bracket. With conference championship game berths still in play across the Power Five, several programs will be playing for both league titles and for improved seed lines or at-large consideration.
Main event
The week’s ranking change centered on Oregon’s road win over USC, which the committee viewed as a signature result and a demonstration of an improving strength of schedule. Hunter Yurachek told ESPN the committee had been waiting for a defining victory before moving the Ducks ahead of Ole Miss. That single-game outcome produced the only top-10 movement in this release.
Inside the top five, Ohio State retained the No. 1 spot while Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia and Texas Tech held steady at Nos. 2–5. Oklahoma remained No. 8, followed by Notre Dame (9), Alabama (10) and BYU (11). Miami rose to No. 12 and Utah slipped to No. 13 after a narrow 51-47 win by the Utes over Kansas State, underscoring the committee’s nuanced treatment of late-game performances and schedule strength.
Several rivalry matchups this weekend carry direct playoff consequences. The Egg Bowl (Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State) has particular significance: Ole Miss could secure or imperil its CFP standing depending on the result, and coach Lane Kiffin is expected to make a decision about his future shortly after that game. The committee’s protocol allows consideration of departures of key personnel when appropriate; whether such a change would be factored depends on timing and evidence.
Other pivotal games include No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas, where an Aggies win would clinch a spot in the SEC title game, and Alabama at Auburn with an SEC championship berth on the line. No. 15 Michigan hosting No. 1 Ohio State also carries high stakes: a Buckeyes win would lock Ohio State into the Big Ten title game, while a Michigan victory could bolster its at-large or conference title case.
Analysis & implications
Oregon’s rise to No. 6 highlights how the committee balances resume components: quality wins, strength of schedule and timing. A signature victory late in the season can outweigh a close earlier loss when comparing teams on the bubble, and the Ducks’ win over a Pac-12 power fits that pattern. For Ole Miss, a one-spot drop shows the slim margins separating top-10 teams rather than a broad rejection of the Rebels’ body of work.
The committee’s allowance to consider coach or player availability introduces a non-game factor that could influence final seeding. If Lane Kiffin were to depart and be unavailable to lead Ole Miss in a potential CFP game, the committee could treat that as a material change in evaluation. However, the committee must rely on observable data — games played without the coach or verifiable confirmation of a departure — before making a ranking adjustment.
Rivalry Week outcomes can rapidly reorganize the bracket because the structure now guarantees byes only for the top four in the final seeding. That intensifies pressure on contenders to finish among the elite four, rather than merely qualifying for the 12-team field. Conference title games and head-to-head results will be weighed heavily in the Dec. 7 final release, and teams that win marquee late-season games improve both their resume and seeding prospects.
Comparison & data
| Rank | Team (Nov. 25) | Change vs. prior week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | — |
| 2 | Indiana | — |
| 3 | Texas A&M | — |
| 4 | Georgia | — |
| 5 | Texas Tech | — |
| 6 | Oregon | +1 |
| 7 | Ole Miss | -1 |
| 15 | Michigan | +3 |
The table above summarizes the limited movement in this week’s rankings: only Oregon and Ole Miss exchanged places inside the top 10, while Michigan’s upward shift is the most notable change outside it. ESPN FPI projections referenced by the committee estimate Miami’s chance to win the ACC at 9%, while SMU is listed as the FPI favorite for the conference at 55%. Those probabilities matter for at-large scenarios and conference-champion automatic berths.
Reactions & quotes
Committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained the specific rationale behind Oregon’s promotion, emphasizing measurable elements of the Ducks’ résumé and the timing of their win.
“Their strength of schedule continues to climb.”
Hunter Yurachek, CFP Committee Chair (via ESPN broadcast)
Yurachek also described the committee’s view of Notre Dame within its evaluation pod, signaling confidence in the Irish as a complete roster despite comparisons to Miami and BYU in the same grouping.
“The committee still feels Notre Dame is a complete team.”
Hunter Yurachek, CFP Committee Chair
The committee addressed how non-game developments might be treated in rankings, noting the protocol allows consideration of major personnel changes but that usable data are required before acting on such factors.
“It is in the protocol, but I’m not sure we will have a data point to use that as part of the protocol.”
Hunter Yurachek, CFP Committee Chair
Unconfirmed
- Lane Kiffin’s decision on his future is expected after the Egg Bowl; the timing and consequence of any departure remain unconfirmed.
- Whether the selection committee will have concrete, observable data showing Ole Miss playing without Kiffin prior to final rankings is currently unclear.
- Any internal deliberations the committee might use to weigh a coach’s departure in its Dec. 7 ranking are not publicly available and remain speculative.
Bottom line
The Nov. 25 CFP rankings were notable more for stability than upheaval: the top five held steady while Oregon earned a single-step promotion into the top six after a marquee win. With Rivalry Week and conference championship races imminent, a few high-stakes matchups will likely determine which teams secure top seeding, automatic conference berths and at-large consideration.
Beyond individual outcomes, the committee’s stated willingness to factor in coach or player availability adds an administrative variable to on-field results — one that could influence final placements if departures or injuries are confirmed before Dec. 7. For now, teams with signature late-season wins strengthen their seeding prospects; conversely, single losses in rivalry games can quickly alter a team’s path to the CFP.