- Ohio State (10-0)
- Indiana (11-0)
- Texas A&M (10-0)
- Georgia (9-1)
- Texas Tech (10-1)
- Ole Miss (10-1)
- Oregon (9-1)
- Oklahoma (8-2)
- Notre Dame (8-2)
- Alabama (8-2)
- BYU (9-1)
- Utah (8-2)
- Miami (8-2)
- Vanderbilt (8-2)
- Southern California (8-2)
- Georgia Tech (9-1)
- Texas (7-3)
- Michigan (8-2)
- Virginia (9-2)
- Tennessee (7-3)
- Illinois (7-3)
- Missouri (7-3)
- Houston (8-2)
- Tulane (8-2)
- Arizona State (7-3)
What the Bracket Would Look Like if the CFP Started Today
How the College Football Playoff and Postseason Work
Under the new format, the five highest-ranked conference champions automatically earn playoff berths, even if they are not ranked in the top 25. Meanwhile, the four highest-ranked teams overall, regardless of conference, will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. Teams seeded five through twelve will face off in the first round at the home field of the higher-seeded team.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will rotate among six bowl games: the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls. Semifinal games are scheduled around the New Year’s holiday, with the National Championship Game taking place on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Fans can see the full CFP schedule for 2025-26 on the College Football Playoff website.
While the Valero Alamo Bowl is not part of the playoff bracket, it will continue to feature highly competitive teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 or former Pac-12 conferences. Following the selection of the 12-team playoff field, the Alamo Bowl will have first choice from two pools of teams.
- The Big 12 pool includes Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
- The Pac-12/Former Pac-12 pool includes Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, and Washington State.
The CFP rankings are determined by a 13-member selection committee made up of former coaches, players, administrators, and journalists. The committee evaluates teams based on their performance on the field, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, conference championships, and results against common opponents. Committee members meet weekly throughout the season, with rankings announced on ESPN, leading up to Selection Day on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
With this expanded playoff, the Valero Alamo Bowl continues to provide elite football, high stakes, and memorable fan experiences. While it sits just outside the playoff field, it remains one of the most important postseason destinations, guaranteeing a matchup that fans will not want to miss.
For more information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.