Unbeatens, and Underdogs, Breaking Down the CFP Rankings Shakeup
The fourth College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025 season didn’t bring chaos at the top, but they did deliver a clear message: the committee believes there are three unbeaten blue-blood-level powers and two legit one-loss threats separating from the pack. Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M hold firm in the top three, all at 11–0, followed by 10–1 Georgia and 10–1 Texas Tech. As the defending national champion and current first ranked, Ohio State feels appropriately slotted; the Buckeyes boast an 11–0 mark behind Julian Sayin’s 2,832 passing yards and nation-leading 185.4 passer rating, with freshman star Jeremiah Smith closing in on 1,000 receiving yards at 902. Indiana ranked second might surprise casual fans, but an 11–0 record, a statement win over Oregon, and Fernando Mendoza’s 2,641 passing yards and 30 TDs with a 184.8 rating justify the lofty perch. I agree with the committee’s top two: they’ve been the most complete and consistent teams in the country.
Texas A&M ranked third is where the debate begins, but the resume holds up under the lights. The Aggies are 11–0, their best start since 1992, and a perfect 7–0 in the SEC, powered by Davey O’Brien finalist Marcel Reed, who’s thrown for 2,752 yards and 25 touchdowns while accounting for 31 total scores and 48 explosive plays of 20+ yards. A&M’s latest 48–0 demolition of Samford, holding the Bulldogs to just 77 total yards and 0-for-14 on third down, reinforces that this isn’t just an offensive story; this is a championship-caliber defense too. Georgia ranked fourth feels fair: the Bulldogs are 10–1, 7–1 in the SEC, with Gunner Stockton steering a balanced attack and a defense headlined by linebacker CJ Allen and ball-hawk corner Ellis Robinson IV. From a program standpoint, staying in the top four keeps Georgia’s dynastic recruiting machine bustling and ensures that the SEC still runs through Athens as much as College Station.
Texas Tech fifth ranked is the most fascinating piece of this puzzle and honestly, I like that the committee didn’t flinch and bump them down in favor of more traditional brands like Oregon or Alabama. The Red Raiders are 10–1 and 7–1 in the Big 12, with a dominant 29–7 win over league co-leader BYU and a 48–9 rout of UCF on the resume, plus the inside track to a conference title game that could clinch the program’s first-ever CFP berth. Offensively, they’re balanced, with Behren Morton throwing for 2,118 yards, Cameron Dickey closing in on 1,000 rushing yards at 944, and Caleb Douglas pacing the receivers with 696 yards. The true identity shift is on defense, where linebacker Jacob Rodriguez’s absurd stat line; 100 tackles, 9.5 TFL, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, has turned Tech into something it rarely has been: tough, opportunistic and playoff-ready on that side of the ball. If there’s a gripe, it’s that Oregon at 10–1 has a case to crack the top five, but given Tech’s conference position and transformational season, I’m siding with the committee: this top five is both defensible and program-defining for everyone involved.
