Who Is Currently in the College Football Playoff?
The College Football Playoff is taking a slightly different approach this season. The 12-team field is still built around the nation’s top-ranked teams, but some important rules have changed. Most notably, the four highest-ranked teams now receive first-round byes, whether they won their conference or not. Automatic spots are also available for the Power 4 conference champions, the top Group of Five team, and Notre Dame under certain conditions.
With the season still in its early stages, the playoff picture can change quickly from week to week. So, if the season ended today, which teams would make the College Football Playoff? Here is how the current rules work, along with a look at which teams would be in the bracket based on the current rankings and results.
1 Seed: Georgia (+1)
As the highest-ranked team in the SEC, we are ranking Georgia as the conference champion and receiving the automatic bid. Their win over Oklahoma last weekend solidified their status as a strong team.
Because they rank among the top four teams overall, they would also earn a first-round bye as the top seed in the bracket.
2 Seed: Texas (-1)
Texas is still undefeated, but their win over Tennessee this weekend was less than convincing. That dropped them down a spot in the rankings from last week.
Texas would enter the playoff as an at-large team based on their ranking. By placing in the top four overall regardless of conference championship status, they secure a first-round bye under the 2026 seeding format.
3 Seed: Notre Dame
Notre Dame qualifies via the rule granting an automatic bid to the Fighting Irish whenever they finish in the top 12 of the final rankings. They grab a first-round bye, also, by holding a top-four position overall in the rankings.
4 Seed: Miami (FL) (+1)
Miami would secure an automatic bid as the highest-ranked team in the ACC (we treat that as the conference’s designated champion since we are looking into the future).
Their current ranking would place them as the 4th seed in a first-round game against Boise State.
5 Seed: Ohio State (+1)
Ohio State is the highest-rated Big 10 team, so we take that as them winning the Big 10 championship and an automatic bid.
As a fifth seed, they would play 12-seed Boise State in the first round of the playoff. That winner would go on to play 4th-seeded Miami.
6 Seed: Indiana (-2)
Based on their current ranking, Indiana would make the field as an at -large bid and capture the 6th overall seed.
They would play Oregon in the first round of the playoffs. The winner would go on to play Notre Dame.
7 Seed: Alabama (+2)
Alabama would secure an at-large spot in the bracket based on their high overall rank. They are up two spots compared to last week thanks to Ole Miss’s loss.
They would play Texas Tech in the first round of the playoff, and then the winner would meet the #2 seed Texas in the next round.
8 Seed: Florida Gators (new)
After a few good weeks and some poor performances from Ole Miss, the Florida Gators are now slotted in as a potential 8 seed in the College Football Playoff.
They would play #9 seed LSU in the first round, with the winner advancing to a matchup against #1 seed Georgia.
9 Seed: LSU
LSU maintains their 9th seed placement from last week and would fill an at-large berth based on their ranking.
As a 9 seed, they would be the visiting team against the 8 seed, Florida. The winner would play #1 Georgia in an SEC-heavy side of the bracket.
10 Seed: Texas Tech (+1)
With Ole Miss losing this weekend, Texas Tech has moved up higher in the rankings and would be the 10th seed in the bracket.
They would play Alabama in a first-round game, with the winner going up against Texas.
11 Seed: Oregon Ducks (new)
Oregon sneaks in as the last at-large entry into the College Football Playoff in the 11th seed spot. They would play 6 seed Indiana in the first round of playoff games.
The winner would then go on to play the 3rd seed, Notre Dame.
12 Seed: Boise State
Boise State would earn an automatic bid by fulfilling the requirement that guarantees a playoff spot to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion (regardless of their overall national ranking). Ranked 28th in the nation, Boise State would be the 12th seed and would knock out Utah (the 12th-ranked team) from the playoff.
This would have them playing a first-round game against #5 seed Ohio State. The winner would then go on to play Miami (the 4th seed) in the next round.
