Where’s Ohio State in second College Football Playoff rankings? Full playoff outlook

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Where’s Ohio State in second College Football Playoff rankings? Full playoff outlook

Ohio State was atop the latest College Football Playoff rankings released on Nov. 11, remaining ahead of two other undefeated teams.

Following a blowout win at Purdue last weekend, the Buckeyes were at little risk of losing their hold on the top spot in the second of the six rankings used to sort the 12-team field.

The selection committee had made it clear during the reveal it considered Ohio State to be the No. 1 team, leaning on the eyes of three retired coaches — Chris Ault, Mark Dantonio and Mike Riley — who are serving as members this season.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a touchdown with running back CJ Donaldson Jr. (12) during the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. on Nov. 8, 2025.

Mack Rhoades, the Baylor athletic director who chairs the committee, said last week the film of the Buckeyes gave them an edge over Indiana and Texas A&M.

As the Buckeyes’ rout of the Boilermakers improved their record to 9-0 overall, it was also their eighth straight win by double-digit margins.

It stood in contrast to their Big Ten counterparts who needed an improbable late touchdown drive at Penn State to stay unbeaten. A toe-tap catch by Omar Cooper Jr. on the back line with 36 seconds put Indiana ahead.

The Hoosiers’ narrow win over the Nittany Lions, who are winless in the Big Ten, stirred debate at No. 2, though they would ultimately remain ahead of fellow unbeaten Texas A&M.

Ohio State’s résumé was impacted in the updated rankings as Washington fell outside the top-25 after it was upset at Wisconsin.

The lone ranked win for the Buckeyes is now Texas, which is No. 10. The only other ranked opponent left on Ohio State’s regular-season schedule is No. 18 Michigan. After a stretch of home games against UCLA and Rutgers, the Buckeyes visit their arch rival on Thanksgiving weekend.   

Latest CFP rankings

  1. Ohio State
  2. Indiana
  3. Texas A&M
  4. Alabama
  5. Georgia
  6. Texas Tech
  7. Mississippi
  8. Oregon
  9. Notre Dame
  10. Texas
  11. Oklahoma
  12. BYU
  13. Utah
  14. Vanderbilt
  15. Miami
  16. Georgia Tech
  17. USC
  18. Michigan
  19. Virginia
  20. Louisville
  21. Iowa
  22. Pittsburgh
  23. Tennessee
  24. South Florida
  25. Cincinnati

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out

The four projected first-round games include No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 12 USF, No. 6 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Miami, No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Texas and No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Notre Dame.

Ohio State would receive a first round-bye as the top seed, along with No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama.

Ohio State’s projected CFP opponent

A postseason rematch would be on the horizon if these were the final rankings.

The Buckeyes would face the winner between No. 8 Oregon and No. 9 Notre Dame, two of the four teams it topped over its College Football Playoff run last January.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2025?

The bracket will feature 12 teams, a combination of the five highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large teams.

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

The release date for the selection committee’s next rankings is Nov. 18.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football’s CFP bracket ranking, playoff picture

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