CFP committee explains keeping Indiana at No. 2 after close call vs Penn State in latest rankings

The apical 5 teams whitethorn not person changed successful the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but determination were immoderate newcomers entering the fold.

The Ohio State Buckeyes stay atop the list, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia to circular retired the apical five.

Then, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma and BYU marque up the apical 12 successful the rankings.

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Ohio State Buckeyes backmost Julian Sayin (10) throws a walk during the 2nd fractional of the NCAA shot crippled against the Western Michigan Broncos astatine Ohio Stadium successful Columbus, Ohio. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

Instead of Memphis being the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, the USF Bulls, ranked No. 24, are present successful the bracket. They would regenerate BYU astatine the infinitesimal due to the fact that 5 league champions are guaranteed a spot successful the 12-team playoff.

Miami, which is projected to triumph the ACC, would besides regenerate Oklahoma if the play ended today.

As the bracket stands, Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama would each person a first-round bye arsenic the apical 4 teams.

OHIO STATE TOPS FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS WITH INDIANA BEHIND AT NO. 2

After this week’s thrilling games, determination was 1 large question astir the apical squads successful the rankings: How was the enactment committee going to presumption the Hoosiers’ comeback triumph implicit Penn State connected the road?

Fernando Mendoza, with 36 seconds near astatine Beaver Stadium, recovered Omar Cooper Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown pass, wherever the second made a miraculous effort to not lone unafraid the shot but besides get his ft successful bounds for the play to stand. Indiana went up 27-24 and kept its undefeated play alive.

The Nittany Lions person present mislaid six consecutive games and person seen their play spell downhill, starring to the firing of James Franklin arsenic caput coach.

Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) celebrates a triumph implicit Penn State pursuing an NCAA assemblage shot game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, successful State College, Penn. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)

However, the enactment committee decided to support its 2nd rankings intact astatine the top.

"It was 1 of our longer discussions successful our meeting," CFP committee seat Mack Rhoads, who serves arsenic diversion manager astatine Baylor, told ESPN connected Tuesday nighttime astir the Hoosiers remaining astatine No. 2. "Indiana, we gave them the borderline defensively, and certainly, offensively, arsenic well. You deliberation astir Indiana’s assemblage of work. … Indiana recovered a mode to find a way."

Meanwhile, the Aggies blew retired different ranked opponent, defeating Missouri, which is nary longer successful the apical 25, connected the road.

Looking astatine much of the apical 12, the Red Raiders moved up 2 spots from No. 8 to No. 6 aft a ascendant 29-7 triumph implicit BYU implicit the weekend. Unfortunately for the Cougars, their archetypal nonaccomplishment meant dropping 5 spots from the archetypal ranking to No. 12.

Rhoads said the committee saw a "convincing win" by Texas Tech implicit BYU.

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza (15) looks to walk against Penn State during the archetypal fractional of an NCAA assemblage shot game. The crippled took spot successful State College, Penn., connected Nov. 8, 2025. (Barry Reeger/AP Photo)

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In the mediate of the pack, Utah was ranked No. 13 by the committee, with Vanderbilt, Miami, Georgia Tech, USC, Michigan, Virginia and Louisville following.

To circular retired the apical 25, the committee chose Iowa, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, USF and Cincinnati successful that order. USF and Cincinnati were some first-timers successful the rankings. As mentioned, Missouri fell retired of the apical 25, and truthful did Washington aft losing this past week.

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