Where Vanderbilt football stands in College Football Playoff rankings release

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Vanderbilt football was ranked 16th in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2025 season, announced Nov. 4.

Unlike the AP and Coaches Polls, the College Football Playoff rankings are determined by the CFP selection committee, giving teams more clues as to what they may need to do to qualify for the chance to win a national championship.

Among SEC teams, the Commodores (7-2, 3-2 SEC) are ranked seventh. This could end up being relevant as it is unlikely that the SEC gets more than five teams in the playoff. Vanderbilt has a relatively light finishing schedule, however, with upcoming games against Auburn and Kentucky before finishing at Tennessee. Oklahoma and Texas both have more difficult schedules up ahead.

A season ago, every SEC team that finished with at least 10 regular-season wins made the playoff, while no team that finished with fewer than 10 wins did. However, in 2025, the top four SEC teams − Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss − have no more games remaining against each other, creating a clear demarcation line between them and the rest.

The Commodores lost, 34-31, to Texas on Nov. 1. Next up, they are set to face Auburn (4-5, 1-5) at FirstBank Stadium on Nov. 8 for a homecoming matchup.

2025 College Football Playoff rankings initial release

1. Ohio State (8-0)

2. Indiana (9-0)

3. Texas A&M (8-0)

4. Alabama (7-1)

5. Georgia (7-1)

6. Ole Miss (8-1)

7. BYU (8-0)

8. Texas Tech (8-1)

9. Oregon (7-1)

10. Notre Dame (6-2)

11. Texas (7-2)

12. Oklahoma (7-2)

13. Utah (7-2)

14. Virginia (8-1)

15. Louisville (7-1)

16. Vanderbilt(7-2)

17. Georgia Tech (8-1)

18. Miami (6-2)

19. Southern Cal (6-2)

20. Iowa (6-2)

21. Michigan (7-2)

22. Missouri (6-2)

23. Washington (6-2)

24. Pittsburgh (7-2)

25. Tennessee (6-3)

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football in College Football Playoff rankings initial release

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