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College Football Playoff Rankings Updated Before Final Regular Season Stretch

The No. 15 USC Trojans climbed up two spots in the latest College Football Playoff rankings ahead of their matchup with the No. 7 Oregon Ducks. Can USC climb into the 12-team field with a win over Oregon?
Charlie Viehl|
Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning enters Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning enters Kinnick Stadium before the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

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USC TrojansOregon DucksAlabama Crimson TideTexas LonghornsGeorgia BulldogsOklahoma SoonersTexas A&M AggiesIllinois Fighting IlliniNotre Dame Fighting Irish

The No. 15 USC Trojans have a key test against the No. 7 Oregon Ducks on Saturday as a third loss will eliminate USC from College Football Playoff contention. On the other hand, would a win over Oregon catapult the Trojans into the postseason field?

The CFP Selection Committee released its latest set of rankings on Tuesday night, giving USC fans a chance to see what work remains ahead of the Trojans. At No. 15, USC is in striking distance to make the 12-team field if they are able to add a win over a top-10 team like the Ducks onto their résumé.

college football playoff rankings USC Trojans Oregon Ducks Dan Lanning lincoln riley alabama georgia texas oklahoma upset
Nov 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

With teams like then-No. 4 Alabama and then-No. 10 Texas losing over the weekend, the CFP rankings saw a considerable amount of movement on Tuesday. Here is the full top-25:

CFP Rankings Week 12

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Ole Miss
7. Oregon
8. Oklahoma
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. Utah
13. Miami
14. Vanderbilt
15. USC
16. Georgia Tech
17. Texas
18. Michigan
19. Virginia
20. Tennessee
21. Illinois
22. Missouri
23. Houston
24. Tulane
25. Arizona State

Biggest Risers and Fallers in New Rankings

Alabama fell from No. 4 to No. 9 lost to then-ranked No. 11 Oklahoma, and the Sooners jumped up to No. 8 as a result. Some expected Alabama to be ranked around Oregon, making the Crimson Tide the top two-loss team in the country. However, the Crimson Tide are behind both Oklahoma and No. 9 Notre Dame.

college football playoff rankings USC Trojans Oregon Ducks Dan Lanning lincoln riley alabama georgia texas oklahoma upset
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables celebrates with his players after winning a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on November 1, 2025. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 4 Georgia handled business against Texas at home, and the Longhorns fell all the way down to No. 17 in the latest rankings from the CFP Selection Committee.

MORE: USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava's Heisman Trophy Odds Shift Before Oregon Game

MORE: College Football Winners and Losers After USC and Texas A&M Comebacks

MORE: USC Coach Lincoln Riley Gets Real About Doubters Before Oregon Game

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As the season inches closer towards its end, the margin for error only decreases. No. 3 Texas A&M was nearly upset by South Carolina, but the Aggies overcame a 30-3 halftime deficit to escape with the win. Still, Texas A&M remained ranked ahead of Georgia.

college football playoff rankings USC Trojans Oregon Ducks Dan Lanning lincoln riley alabama georgia texas oklahoma upset
Nov 15, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Kyle Field. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

On the other hand, No. 16 Georgia Tech was leapfrogged by USC after narrowly beating Boston College on the road.

Even farther down the rankings, a number of teams like then-No. 21 Iowa, then-No. 22 Pittsburgh, then-No. 24 South Florida, and then-No. 25 Cincinnati all lost over the weekend. With the door wide open for some new programs to be ranked, new arrivals include No. 15 North Texas, No. 24 Illinois, and No. 22 James Madison.

CFP Rankings Prediction Week 12

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Ole Miss
7. Oregon
8. Oklahoma
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
11. BYU
12. Utah
13. Vanderbilt
14. Miami
15. USC
16. Georgia Tech
17. Texas
18. Michigan
19. Virginia
20. Tennessee
21. Houston
22. James Madison
23. Missouri
24. Illinois
25. North Texas

Published | Modified
Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is the deputy editor for the Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes, and USC Trojans on SI. He has written hundreds of articles for SI and has covered events like the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician, holding a degree in Music and Philosophy from Boston College. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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