College Football Playoff Paths: How Every Top 25 Team Can Still Get In

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

College Football Playoff Paths: How Every Top 25 Team Can Still Get In

It’s not over yet.

It seems like a given that the teams at the top of the third-to-last College Football Playoff 25 are locked in, and at least when it comes to being in the tournament, a few are.

But for now, don’t worry about seeds and in which spot each team will be. What’s the path to get in for each of the top 25 to make it into the College Football Playoff?

What Every Top 25 Team Needs To Reach the College Football Playoff

Nov 15, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (center) enters the field to warm up before the game against NC State Wolfpack at Hard Rock Stadium. © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Let’s go right down the line from 25 to 1, and what has to happen for each team to get into the College Football Playoff. | @PeteFiutak

25. Arizona Wildcats 
Nothing, Out, over, and they’re happy just to be in the top 25.

24. Tulane Green Wave
Beat Charlotte, and win the American Conference Championship. The committee apparently doesn’t like James Madison, so the winner of the American title is in, if it’s not Tulane.

23. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
SMU has to lose at Cal and Virginia has to lose to Virginia Tech. It gets insane after that, but to keep it simple, Georgia Tech has to get to the ACC Championship and win it.

But here’s the thing – what if it beats Georgia? If it’s 10-2, and Georgia is 10-2 …

22. Pitt Panthers
It’s in the ACC Championship if it beats Miami, and Virginia loses to Virginia Tech, or SMU loses at Cal. Then it has to win the ACC title.

21. SMU Mustangs
Win at Cal, or else it’ll take a whole slew of crazy scenarios to get to the ACC Championship. Win the ACC, get in.

Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jeff Sims (6) against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountain America Stadium© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

20. Arizona State Sun Devils
It’s possible. They have to beat Arizona and get UCF to take down BYU. Then they have to beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship.

19. Tennessee Volunteers
They can watch along with the rest of us, all while enjoying trays of fine meats and cheeses.

18. Virginia Cavaliers
Beat Virginia Tech, win the ACC Championship, and in. (There are other ways to get in with a loss, but it would require a few needles to be threaded.)

17. USC Trojans
Out again, remaining one of the top programs not to make the CFP.

16. Texas Longhorns
Out, even though people will start screaming if the Longhorns obliterate Texas A&M.

Aug 30, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines edge TJ Guy (4) celebrates a fumble recovery in the first half against the New Mexico Lobos at Michigan Stadium. © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

15. Michigan Wolverines
This gets interesting in a hurry if Michigan beats Ohio State again. If that happens, it’s in the Big Ten Championship if Washington beats Oregon. The Wolverines would have to beat Indiana because, no, even with a win over the Buckeyes, they almost certainly wouldn’t move into the top ten.

14. Vanderbilt Commodores
It can’t get into the SEC Championship, so that’s it. Even if it blows out Tennessee, it still won’t have a truly amazing win.

13. Utah Utes
It’s tough, but if they beat Kansas, and Texas Tech has to lose to West Virginia, and Arizona State has to beat Arizona State. Then it has to beat BYU in the Big 12 Championship.

12. Miami Hurricanes
Beat Pitt, and hope just about everyone in the ACC who matters loses. Or, hope for Auburn to beat Alabama and for UCF to beat BYU – if that happens, then it comes down to Miami vs Notre Dame for a spot. It would be a plus if the Irish lost to Stanford, too.

11. BYU Cougars 
Beat UCF, beat (likely) Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship, go to the College Football Playoff. Or, beat UCF, and hope for a Notre Dame loss to Stanford or an Alabama loss to Auburn.

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer goes out to congratulate players coming off the field as Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan III (96) comes to the sideline at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 20-9. © Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

10. Alabama Crimson Tide
If the Tide beat Auburn, they’re in the SEC Championship and will be in the College Football Playoff with a win, or a loss and BYU not winning the Big 12 Championship.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
In, as long as it beats Stanford, and BYU and Alabama both don’t win their respective conference championships.

8. Oklahoma Sooners
Beat LSU, get in. Lose to LSU, and out.

7. Ole Miss Rebels
In with a CFP home game if they beat Mississippi State, likely in even with a loss, unless Oklahoma loses to LSU, too.

6. Oregon Ducks
Beat Washington, and in. Lose, and it gets a tad hairy if Michigan beats Ohio State.

5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Win at West Virginia, and they’re in. As long as they win one of their last two, they should be fine, but this gets close if they lose to the Mountaineers, and if Arizona State beats Arizona and Kansas beats Utah.

4. Georgia Bulldogs
As long as they don’t get destroyed by Georgia Tech, they should be fine. However, lose, and how do you put the Bulldogs ahead over the Yellow Jackets? If Georgia wins the SEC Championship – it’s in if Texas beats Texas A&M – it can take care of things on its own.

3. Texas A&M Aggies, 2, Indiana Hoosiers, 1. Ohio State Buckeyes
All 11-0, all in the CFP, even if they gag their respective games against Texas, Purdue, and Michigan.

Related: Alabama and Notre Dame CFP Nightmare Scenarios If This Happens

This story was originally published by College Football News on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos