CFB Playoff Picture, Standings and Bracket Predictions After Week 3 of 2025-26 Season
The Georgia Bulldogs won their first SEC epic of the 2025 college football season over the Tennessee Volunteers.
UGA captured the back-and-forth battle with long-time rival in overtime to bank a strong win in the context of the College Football Playoff.
Kirby Smart's team entered the weekend as No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and likely will be in the top five on Sunday because of its road win in Knoxville.
Tennessee isn't out of the CFB Playoff discussion at all with how many opportunities remain for ranked wins in SEC play.
However, two teams submarined their playoff hopes in Week 3.
The Clemson Tigers are 1-2 and on the brink of being irrelevant in the national conversation for at least the next few weeks.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish dropped to 0-2 after a heartbreaking home loss to the Texas A&M Aggies.
Notre Dame and Clemson essentially need to win out and get some help to feel comfortable about their playoff positions at any point of the regular season.
Georgia Banks Top 25 Road Win over Tennessee
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Georgia battled to an overtime win in Knoxville to bank the first of what it hopes is many Top 25 victories.
The Bulldogs eked out a 44-41 win in overtime thanks to a Josh McCray touchdown run in the extra period. Tennessee was held to a field goal in the lone overtime.
Tennessee could have won the game at the end of regulation, but Max Gilbert missed a potential game-winning field goal.
Georgia doesn't any have time to rest because of the gauntlet it faces in the SEC this season. The Bulldogs next play at home in two weeks against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Four other Top 25 opponents are on UGA's schedule, as are the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who should be ranked after their upset over Clemson.
At minimum, Saturday's win is the first notable win on what has the potential to be a robust CFB Playoff resume.
Clemson Falls Far from CFB Playoff Discussion
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Clemson will not be mentioned much in the CFB Playoff discussion for a while.
Dabo Swinney's side suffered its second loss of the season on Saturday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The Week 3 road loss combined with the opening-week defeat to the LSU Tigers puts Clemson in a less-than-enviable position in mid-September.
Clemson entered the weekend at No. 12 in the AP Top 25, but there's a chance the Tigers fall out of the rankings entirely with their 1-2 record.
Clemson can still bounce back into the playoff conversation by winning the ACC, but to get into the ACC Championship Game, its margin of error is incredibly slim.
Notre Dame Drops to 0-2
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Notre Dame's CFB Playoff hopes are bleak.
Last season's runner-up fell by one point at home to Texas A&M. The Irish were doomed by a failed snap on an extra-point attempt on their last touchdown.
Notre Dame could still finish 10-2 and be in the CFB Playoff discussion, but Saturday felt like a missed opportunity for the Irish.
There are no current ranked teams on the Irish's remaining schedule, and with two losses to Top 25 foes already, it's hard to figure out a resume that ND puts together to impress the selection committee.
The result in South Bend was far more about Notre Dame's failed playoff chances than Texas A&M announcing itself as a potential contender.
A&M still has five Top 25 opponents on its schedule, starting with the September 27 clash against the Auburn Tigers.
Mike Elko's team passed its first test, but there's still a chance it finishes with three losses.
As for Notre Dame, all it can do is try to win out and hope things break its way in the playoff conversation.
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