CFP Bracket 2025: Full 12-Team Breakdown & Top 25

The College Football Playoff landscape has transformed dramatically for the 2025 season with the debut of the new 12-team format. As the penultimate rankings are released, the race for the national championship is heating up. Here's everything you need to know about the current bracket structure, first-round matchups, and the teams fighting for a title.

The New Playoff Structure

The expanded playoff introduces significant changes to the postseason format. The top four seeds earn crucial first-round byes, while teams seeded 5-12 will host campus-based first-round games. Winners advance to quarterfinals hosted at premier bowl sites, creating a path where every game matters.

Current Bracket Breakdown

First-Round Byes

• No. 1 Seed: Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0)
• No. 2 Seed: Indiana Hoosiers (12-0)
• No. 3 Seed: Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)
• No. 4 Seed: Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1)

First-Round Matchups

• No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (Winner plays No. 1 Ohio State)
• No. 12 Tulane Green Wave at No. 5 Oregon Ducks (Winner plays No. 4 Texas Tech)
• No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers at No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (Winner plays No. 3 Georgia)
• No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (Winner plays No. 2 Indiana)

The Full Top 25 Rankings

The CFP Committee released its latest rankings on December 2, highlighting the current playoff contenders:

1. 1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0)
2. 2. Indiana Hoosiers (12-0)
3. 3. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)
4. 4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1)
5. 5. Oregon Ducks (11-1)
6. 6. Ole Miss Rebels (11-1)
7. 7. Texas A&M Aggies (11-1)
8. 8. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)
9. 9. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)
10. 10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2)
11. 11. BYU Cougars (11-1)
12. 12. Miami Hurricanes (10-2)
13. 13. Texas Longhorns (9-3)
14. 14. Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2)
15. 15. Utah Utes (10-2)
16. 16. USC Trojans (9-3)
17. 17. Virginia Cavaliers (10-2)
18. 18. Arizona Wildcats (9-3)
19. 19. Michigan Wolverines (9-3)
20. 20. Tulane Green Wave (10-2)
21. 21. Houston Cougars (9-3)
22. 22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3)
23. 23. Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4)
24. 24. North Texas Mean Green (11-1)
25. 25. James Madison Dukes (11-1)

Key Storylines to Watch

• Indiana's Historic Run: The Hoosiers claim their first-ever No. 1 ranking with a perfect 12-0 record, setting up a potential showdown with Notre Dame or Texas A&M.
• SEC Dominance: Georgia and Alabama represent the SEC's strength, with the Bulldogs holding the No. 3 seed and the Crimson Tide needing a road win at Oklahoma.
• Group of Five Spoilers: Tulane (10-2) and James Madison (11-1) look to make history as the highest-ranked Group of Five teams.

"The committee has released its rankings each Tuesday for the past five weeks. The last set of rankings will be released Dec. 7, and those will determine the final 12-team bracket." - ESPN

What's Next?

The final CFP rankings will be released on December 7, 2025, which will lock in the complete bracket. First-round games will be played on campus sites on December 20-21, with quarterfinals scheduled for New Year's Day at major bowl locations.

As the regular season concludes, every remaining game carries playoff implications. Will Ohio State claim the top seed? Can Tulane pull off an upset? The expanded field promises unprecedented drama in the race for college football's ultimate prize.