College Football Playoff Rankings for Week 12 Unveiled

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The College Football Playoff rankings for Week 12 were announced, with Ohio State securing the top position as the Buckeyes remain undefeated at 9-0. Following closely behind is Indiana with a 10-0 record, and Texas A&M, also undefeated at 9-0, holds the third spot.

CFP committee chair Mack Rhoades noted the tight competition in rankings, stating, “I think you’re talking about really small margins when you think about the difference between Ohio State, Indiana, and A&M.” He emphasized the weight of head-to-head results and schedule strength in the ranking process.

This week saw several shifts in the rankings after losses and narrow wins affected team standings. Alabama sits in fourth place, maintaining their position after a victory over LSU. Georgia follows at fifth after a decisive 41-21 win against Mississippi State.

Notably, the rankings reflect strong showings from Texas Tech and Ole Miss, both ranked sixth and seventh, despite Ole Miss’ struggles against FCS opponents. The committee has raised concerns regarding consistency for Miami, now ranked 15th, after their previous loss but praised their recent win over Syracuse.

Louisville, after suffering a home loss to California, slipped to 20th in the rankings. Quarterback Miller Moss struggled to find momentum, completing only 20 of 38 attempts for 203 yards. The Cardinals are set to face Clemson next, presenting a critical opportunity to regain their footing in the playoff conversation.

As the competition intensifies, the committee will scrutinize how teams perform in upcoming games, especially with key matchups on the horizon. Rhoades highlighted that teams like Virginia and Louisville, at 14th and 15th respectively, still have potential paths to playoff contention.

The upcoming week promises to reshape the narrative for several teams as they strive to improve their playoff positioning in the final pushes of the season.