Overview
- The selection committee’s fourth Top 25 kept Ohio State first with Indiana second, Texas A&M third, Georgia fourth and Texas Tech fifth ahead of Week 14.
- Oregon climbed to No. 6 after a 42-27 win over No. 15 USC, strengthening the Ducks’ at-large positioning.
- Projected first-round games based on the current seeding are No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Oregon, No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Mississippi and No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma.
- Under this year’s 12-team format, the four highest-ranked teams receive byes and first-round games are played on campus sites before quarterfinals at the Cotton, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls.
- Tulane held at No. 24 as the lone ranked Group of Five contender influencing the automatic-bid race, with the next rankings set for Dec. 2 and the final field revealed Dec. 7.