College Football Playoff rankings predictions: Alabama, Notre Dame in CFP bracket?

The updated College Football Playoff rankings face plenty of complications following the conference title games ahead of Sunday's release of the final CFP bracket. Alabama's underwhelming performance in the SEC Championship puts their College Football Playoff fate in serious doubt.

BYU and Alabama's losses potentially open the door for Miami to be back in the postseason picture. There is also the question of whether Miami will continue to be ranked behind Notre Dame, despite the Hurricanes' holding a win over the Irish.

Meanwhile, if Duke defeats Virginia, the door is open for the ACC to be absent from the CFP bracket. James Madison would likely join Tulane in the College Football Playoff.

Here's a look at our projected College Football Playoff rankings following the conference championship games.

No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana completed a perfect regular season with an upset win over Ohio State to win the Big Ten Championship. There is little doubt that the Hoosiers will be the No. 1 seed as the lone undefeated power conference champion.

No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia avenged a previous loss to Alabama and looks to be the hotest team in the country. The Dawgs are surging at just the right time. Georgia's performance in the SEC Championship should have the Dawgs jump the loser of the Big Ten Championship.

Georgia players brought out a belt after beating Bama pic.twitter.com/5WmahhTyjq
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2025

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State once again ended the regular season on a down note, but the Buckeyes still look like one of the best teams in the country. The Buckeyes offense appeared human against Indiana, and it will be interesting to see how the unit responds after the long layoff in the postseason.

No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech left no doubt on who the best team is in the Big 12 with another dominant win over BYU. The Red Raiders are expected to earn a first-round bye.

Texas Tech saved a spot in its trophy room for its first-ever Big 12 championship. There’s a block on it that reads: BELIEVE.

The Red Raiders are finally bringing one home to Lubbock. pic.twitter.com/zTojjWpL8t
— Max Olson (@max_olson) December 6, 2025

No. 5 Oregon Ducks

Oregon is posed to secure the first at-large spot and host Tulane, Virginia, James Madison or Duke. The Ducks do not earn a first-round bye but did get an extra week off by not playing in the Big Ten title game.

No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels

Perhaps the Ole Miss players were not insistent on Lake Kiffin sticking around after turning in his two weeks' notice. It will be worth watching how Ole Miss responds, but don't be surprised if the Rebels are motivated to make a run with all the drama in the rearview mirror.

No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M will look to follow Ohio State's blueprint from last season. Have your worst performance of the season against a rival and bounce back by winning the national championship. Marcel Reed and company will still be a dangerous out in the postseason.

No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners

Things played out perfectly during the conference championship matchups for Oklahoma to host a first-round playoff game. The additional time off could help a rested John Mateer find his previous form.

No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The committee left the door open for Miami to pass Notre Dame in the final rankings, despite neither team playing this weekend. If the committee has not valued Miami's head-to-head win over Notre Dame by now, it is hard to imagine things changing with no more data points.

No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide

If Alabama misses the College Football Playoff, it leaves the door open for teams to opt out of playing in future conference championship games. Does Alabama deserve to be in over teams like Miami or Texas?

Put Notre Dame & Miami in the College Football Playoff
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) December 7, 2025

It is hard to say, but the SEC and Big Ten are already threatening anarchy amid the current debate on playoff expansion. The committee avoids an offseason disaster by keeping Bama in the field.

No. 11 Tulane Green Wave

It looks like the Jon Sumrall era in New Orleans will continue just a little while longer. Tulane showed no signs of Sumrall's departure to Florida impacting the team.

The Green Wave will do their best impression of "The Last Dance." Remember, some of these Tulane players are also playing for a chance to make the move to Florida with Sumrall.

No. 12 James Madison Dukes

Team chaos ended up winning out on Saturday as Duke upset Virginia to win the ACC Championship. The win likely sends James Madison to the postseason and leaves the ACC on the outside looking in.

JMU lacks wins over a Power Four opponent, but it is hard to imagine the committee putting in a five-loss Duke squad. If the projections hold, James Madison would be a heavy underdog versus Duke.