Overview
- Ohio State stayed No. 1 ahead of Indiana, with Georgia and Texas Tech rounding out the current top four that would receive first-round byes.
- Ole Miss climbed to No. 6 despite Lane Kiffin leaving for LSU, and LSU said Charlie Weis Jr. can return temporarily to help coach the Rebels in the playoff.
- Alabama moved to No. 9 ahead of No. 10 Notre Dame, a switch committee chair Hunter Yurachek linked to the Tide’s road rivalry win, leaving both as the last projected at-large teams.
- Texas A&M fell to No. 7 after losing to Texas, which rose to No. 13, and projections based on the rankings slot Tulane at Oregon, Virginia at Ole Miss, Notre Dame at Texas A&M, and Alabama at Oklahoma in the first round.
- Paths remain fluid for the final spots as No. 17 Virginia faces Duke for the ACC title, Tulane meets North Texas for the AAC crown, and No. 25 James Madison could enter the field if conference results open a second Group of Five berth.