Selection Sunday always brings drama, debate and, inevitably, a few bruised egos. But the 2025–26 College Football Playoff bracket delivered something the sport has never seen: Indiana atop the college football world. Yes, that Indiana — the program that spent decades as a punchline and entered the FBS modern era as the second-losingest team in history — now sits as the undefeated No. 1 seed in a 12-team College Football Playoff.
It’s the kind of storyline only college football can deliver: a proud blue-blood (Ohio State) knocked from its perch by a rising underdog; a conference champion left out while two Group of Five schools slide in; Miami controversially jumping Notre Dame; and a playoff bracket loaded with heavyweight clashes, tactical contrasts, and redemption arcs.
Let’s dive into everything that made this one of the most memorable Selection Sundays yet — and what it all means as the postseason kicks off.
Hoosier Hysteria: Indiana Completes Its Unthinkable Rise
Indiana’s 13–0 campaign isn’t just the greatest season in program history — it’s one of the most stunning turnarounds in recent college football memory. Just one year removed from slipping into the playoff as the No. 10 seed and bowing out immediately to Notre Dame, coach Curt Cignetti now has IU standing atop the sport.
Everything clicked in 2025, and it started with Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy front-runner who blossomed into one of the nation’s steadiest and most explosive quarterbacks. Indiana’s resume sparkles: gritty road wins at Iowa, Oregon, and Penn State, mixed with several emphatic beatdowns that showcased a dominant defensive front. But nothing was more impressive than the Big Ten Championship Game, where IU outdueled defending national champion Ohio State in a showdown between the nation’s top two teams.
It was the signature moment of Selection Sunday: the Hoosiers didn’t just earn the No. 1 seed — they took it directly from the Buckeyes’ hands.
Indiana will now head to the Rose Bowl as the playoff’s top overall seed, carrying a level of pressure unimaginable for a program that, until recently, would have been thrilled just to reach bowl eligibility.
Ohio State Falls to No. 2 — But Remains a Formidable Threat
For Ohio State, this year has been a testament to program stability. Replacing both coordinators, a star quarterback, and half a roster’s worth of NFL-bound talent would derail most teams. Instead, the Buckeyes opened the year by beating then-No. 1 Texas and didn’t flinch until their Big Ten title game rematch with Indiana.
Even with the setback, Ohio State heads into the playoff as the No. 2 seed, still armed with one of the most balanced, efficient lineups in the country. Their defensive rotations are deep. Their receiving corps remains as lethal as any. And their identity — fast, physical, adaptable — hasn’t changed from last season’s championship run.
The Buckeyes have made seven playoff appearances in 12 years of the bracket. This one might be the most intriguing: how does a reigning champ respond when bumped off the throne hours before Selection Sunday?
Their path goes through the Cotton Bowl, with a chance to exact revenge on Indiana if both teams advance deep into the bracket.
Georgia, Texas Tech Round Out the Bye Seeds
No. 3 Georgia (12–1)
Georgia’s season has been a steady upward climb. After a midseason stumble, the Bulldogs hit November with renewed ferocity, capping their run by demolishing Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Though that performance wasn’t enough to push them past Ohio State for the No. 2 seed, it did reinforce their status as a bona fide contender.
QB Gunner Stockton has settled into a confident command of the offense, and the defense — though not quite at its 2021–22 peak — is once again elite at the point of attack.
Georgia lands in the Sugar Bowl and is positioned well to make another deep run.
No. 4 Texas Tech (12–1)
A Big 12 champion as a top-four seed? It feels like an alternate universe, but Texas Tech earned it. Fueled by billionaire booster Cody Campbell’s unprecedented investment, the Red Raiders built one of the deepest rosters in school history.
They’ve been on a tear, outscoring opponents 245–43 over their last six games, with QB Behren Morton healthy again and the defensive line smothering anything in front of it. A slip-up at Arizona State remains the lone blemish, but Tech did everything else required to notch the Big 12’s automatic bid and a crucial first-round bye.
The Orange Bowl now awaits a program that looks increasingly capable of rewriting its national identity.
A Historic Twist: No ACC Champion in the Field
Duke’s upset win over Virginia in the ACC Championship Game delivered one of the most significant ripple effects of the day: for the first time in the 12-team format, a Power Four champion was left out of the playoff.
Virginia entered the weekend ranked No. 21, needing only to beat 7–5 Duke to earn an automatic bid as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. Instead, Duke stormed the field, the Cavaliers slipped, and the chain reaction opened the door for not one, but two Group of Five champions.
That’s how Tulane and James Madison found themselves in the field.
At-Large Drama: Miami In, Notre Dame Out
Perhaps the most contentious decision of the day came down to the final at-large spot.
Notre Dame sat two spots ahead of Miami in the penultimate CFP Rankings. Neither played on Championship Weekend. But Miami held one major advantage:
They beat Notre Dame head-to-head in Week 1.
That early-season win, combined with Miami’s blistering four-game closing stretch and Alabama’s lopsided loss to Georgia, nudged the Hurricanes into the No. 10 seed … and shoved the Fighting Irish out of the field entirely.
It’s the type of move the committee has hinted it would make for years but rarely had the opportunity — or boldness — to execute. Expect a week’s worth of debate on sports talk shows nationwide.
First-Round Showdowns Set the Stage
All four first-round games will be hosted by the higher-seeded non-bye teams. And every one of them offers intrigue:
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison
Oregon boasts one of the most suffocating pass defenses in the country, allowing more than 140 yards through the air only three times all season. JMU enters on an 11-game winning streak with a dynamic, disciplined offense. The Ducks are heavy favorites at home, but the Dukes thrive as disruptors.
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane
A rematch of Week 4, when Ole Miss blasted Tulane 45–10. But this time, the Green Wave come in as conference champs with dual-threat QB Jake Retzlaff playing his best ball. Lane Kiffin is gone, but the Rebels — now led by Pete Golding — still carry the swagger of an 11-win team.
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (FL)
One of the most anticipated matchups of the round. A&M’s third-down defense is the nation’s best, and QB Marcel Reed’s mobility gives opponents nightmares. Miami, meanwhile, is hot at the right time and knows it belongs here. This may be the closest game of the weekend.
No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama
A rematch of OU’s 23–21 win just a month ago. Oklahoma punches opponents in the mouth defensively, while Alabama has perfected its methodical, clock-draining style. The Tide became the first three-loss team to reach the playoff, but they have the talent — and motivation — to make noise.
Team-by-Team Breakdown of the Field
1. Indiana (13–0)
A year ago, they were thrilled just to be in the playoff. Now they are the hunted. Mendoza leads a balanced offense, and the defense thrives in late-game pressure. The nation’s most improbable No. 1 seed.
2. Ohio State (12–1)
A complete, adaptable team with championship DNA. Their receivers and defensive front remain among the nation's best.
3. Georgia (12–1)
Red-hot entering the postseason, with a seasoned quarterback and the SEC’s most battle-tested defense.
4. Texas Tech (12–1)
Explosive, physical, and dangerous. A matchup nightmare for anyone unprepared for their tempo.
5. Oregon (11–1)
Injuries didn’t break them — they recalibrated. Their defense might be the best unit in the playoff outside of Columbus.
6. Ole Miss (11–1)
A historic season overshadowed only by their coach leaving for LSU. Golding now has the keys, and the Rebels have the talent to make a push.
7. Texas A&M (11–1)
Disciplined, physical, and stingy defensively. If Reed gets hot, the Aggies can beat anyone.
8. Oklahoma (10–2)
Not flashy, but brutally effective. Their defense is built for playoff-style football.
9. Alabama (10–3)
This isn’t one of Nick Saban’s vintage teams, but their peaks are elite. And no program knows the playoff stage better.
10. Miami (10–2)
A roller-coaster season, but the Hurricanes closed with purpose. Their early win over Notre Dame proved decisive.
11. Tulane (11–2)
Fourth among conference champions, but capable of carving up defenses with their unconventional attack.
12. James Madison (12–1)
From FCS power to full playoff participant — and now a dangerous underdog. They don’t blink, and they don’t beat themselves.
What to Expect Moving Forward
The expanded playoff format already feels like a win. Twelve teams. Four byes. On-campus first-round matchups. New Year’s Six quarterfinals and semifinals. It’s everything fans dreamed of.
But this year’s bracket has an extra jolt of flavor:
A mid-major breakthrough with both Tulane and JMU.
A historic No. 1 seed in Indiana.
A blue-blood redemption arc in Alabama.
A controversial selection with Miami over Notre Dame.
A Texas Tech team built like a modern super-program.
A possible Indiana–Ohio State national championship rematch looming.
It’s chaos. It’s balance. It’s opportunity.
It’s college football at its finest.
Final Thoughts
The 2025–26 College Football Playoff bracket is the perfect mix of tradition and disruption. Indiana’s rise reshapes the national landscape. Ohio State remains in the hunt for a repeat. Georgia and Texas Tech are waiting patiently with byes in hand. And the first-round clashes promise intensity worthy of the sport’s postseason evolution.
Bowl season is here. The bracket is set. Twelve teams begin the chase, but only one will lift the trophy.
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