Texas A&M Holds No. 3 Spot in CFP Rankings Amid SEC Shake-Up

When the College Football Playoff Selection Committee unveiled its Week 13 rankings on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, one name stayed stubbornly in place: Texas A&M University. The Aggies, undefeated at 10-0, clung to No. 3 — a position they’ve held since November 11 — despite not playing a single snap that weekend. Meanwhile, chaos erupted above and below them. University of Alabama lost its grip on the top five after a shocking 23-21 home defeat to University of Oklahoma at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. And University of Georgia surged past them, thanks to a dominant 35-10 win over University of Texas in Austin. The result? A top five that looks nothing like it did a week ago.

Top Five Reordered: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, Texas Tech

The new top five was a revelation. Ohio State (10-0) held firm at No. 1, while Indiana (11-0) climbed to No. 2 — the first time a Hoosiers team has cracked the top two since the CFP’s inception. Texas A&M remained at No. 3, a testament to its flawless record and strength of schedule. Georgia (9-1) jumped to No. 4 after dismantling Texas, while Texas Tech (10-1) earned its first-ever top-five appearance, leapfrogging Alabama and even Georgia from last week’s ranking. The triple asterisks next to the top four meant they’d all get a first-round bye in the 12-team playoff. Texas Tech, as No. 5, became the first team outside the Power Five to host a first-round game under the new format.

Alabama’s fall to No. 10 — despite matching Oklahoma’s 8-2 record — wasn’t just about the loss. It was about perception. The committee saw the Crimson Tide’s schedule as softer, their wins less impressive, and their home defeat to Oklahoma as a fatal blow. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s win vaulted them to No. 8, their highest ranking since 2019. "It’s not just the loss," said one anonymous committee member in a post-release briefing. "It’s what you do after. Alabama didn’t look like a team ready to win a national title on December 20. Georgia did. Texas A&M did."

Conference Champions and the New Math of the 12-Team Playoffs

The 12-team format, implemented in 2024, changed everything. No longer is it about just the top four. Now, the five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids — and the rest are filled by at-large selections. That’s why University of Miami (8-2), despite not being a top-10 team, was projected as the No. 11 seed. As the highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference champion, they got the nod. Meanwhile, Tulane University (9-2), ranked No. 24, secured the final spot as the highest-ranked American Athletic Conference champion. The committee’s bylaws, amended in January 2023, make this non-negotiable: if a Group of Five team wins its conference and finishes in the top 25, it’s in — no matter the margin.

That’s a seismic shift. In 2023, University of Cincinnati was left out despite a perfect season. This year, Tulane’s 9-2 record — including wins over Houston and UCF — was enough. "It’s fair," said Robert Behrens, staff writer for Good Bull Hunting. "The system rewards winning your conference. That’s what college football is supposed to be about."

Who’s Still in the Hunt — and Who’s Out

Beyond the top 12, the race for at-large bids got wild. Ole Miss (10-1) sat at No. 6, Oregon (9-1) at No. 7, and Notre Dame (8-2) at No. 9. But teams like Michigan (8-2), USC (8-2), and Virginia (9-2) were all on the bubble — one bad loss away from elimination.

Even more surprising: Brigham Young (9-1) and Utah (8-2) both received votes — a sign that the committee is taking the Mountain West more seriously than ever. Meanwhile, Texas (7-3) and Tennessee (7-3) were out of the conversation. The Aggies? They’re still in control.

What’s Next for Texas A&M — and the SEC

Texas A&M’s next challenge comes on November 23, 2025, when they host the University of South Carolina in College Station. A win there — even a narrow one — likely locks in their first-round bye. But the real test is looming: if they make the playoff, they’ll face either Georgia or Texas Tech in the quarterfinals — depending on how the bracket shakes out.

And then there’s the SEC Championship. On December 6, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia will face Texas — not just for the conference title, but for a shot at the national title. If Georgia wins, they’ll likely jump Texas A&M. If they lose? The Aggies could be the highest-ranked one-loss team in the country.

"This isn’t about rankings," said David Cobb of CBS Sports. "It’s about momentum. Texas A&M has it. Alabama lost theirs. Georgia found theirs. That’s what the committee sees."

Final Countdown to December 8

The committee, chaired by Mun Y. Choi since 2023, will meet again on December 1, then finalize their rankings on December 8 — the same day the 12-team bracket is officially revealed. The playoff kicks off December 20, 2025, with semifinals on January 1 and the national title game on January 20.

For Texas A&M, this is their best shot at a national title since 2012. For the SEC, it’s a chance to prove they still dominate college football. For the rest? It’s a reminder that in the new era, every win matters — and every loss can be fatal.