CFP Rankings: Second Top 25 Reveal Tests Notre Dame, Alabama and Texas

The second College Football Playoff rankings of the season were scheduled to be revealed on Tuesday, 10 November, with the top 25 expected to shift after Week 10. Among the questions being watched are where Notre Dame lands after beating No. 1 Miami, and how far the Hurricanes fall. Attention is also on the latest results for BYU, Utah, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

Notre Dame, Miami and BYU

Notre Dame's win over Miami has raised questions about where the Fighting Irish will be placed in the 12-team bracket. Analysts have pointed out that Notre Dame also lost to BYU, which complicates how the committee will weigh those results.

Miami's schedule has not been overly challenging, USA Today noted, which could affect how far the Hurricanes drop after their loss to Notre Dame. BYU's second loss of the season, to Utah, adds another variable, since the Cougars' position in the next bracket will depend on how the committee views a team with two defeats.

Alabama, Tennessee and Texas

In the SEC, the committee faces a conundrum. Alabama is ranked well ahead of Tennessee, even though the Volunteers beat the Crimson Tide in Neyland Stadium in Week 7. Both teams won in Week 10, which raises the question of whether the committee will move Tennessee past Alabama.

Texas adds another layer, since it holds a head-to-head win over Tennessee coach Josh Heupel's team. Predictions from NCAA.com named Texas Tech, Wake Forest, Ole Miss and Houston as the first teams out, and noted that the circular nature of the results makes the pod structure a central issue.

A 24-team format ahead

The committee's work is also taking place against a backdrop of change. On Monday, 9 November, it was announced that the CFP will expand to 24 teams beginning in 2027. According to USA Today, the expansion comes at the cost of Power Four conference championships.

Reports also flagged Oregon, USC, Ohio State and Iowa as Big Ten teams that could land in the lower half of the rankings, making the reveal a test of how the committee values ranked wins across conferences.

What we know so far

The rankings were scheduled to be released at 9 p.m. ET, between games of the Champions Classic, though the start could move depending on whether the Duke vs. Michigan State game runs long. Selection Sunday is set for 6 December, with the national championship on 25 January. Because the committee's results will be shaped by head-to-head outcomes and schedule strength, the top 25 is expected to move in several directions.