Winners and Losers of the Week 13 College Football Playoff Rankings

As the College Football Playoff selection committee released its third Top 25 of the 2025 season, the countdown to Selection Day is dropping fast.

Only two more Tuesday rankings are left on the calendar.

The committee's latest version is static at the top; Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M remain the three highest-ranked teams. Alabama's loss to Oklahoma, meanwhile, pushed Georgia into position for a first-round bye.

But as Alabama stuck in the Top 10, the most interesting stories happened on the fringe of the CFP bracket—particularly in the ACC and American.

The full rankings are below:

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Texas Tech
6. Ole Miss
7. Oregon
8. Oklahoma
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. Utah
13. Miami
14. Vanderbilt
15. USC
16. Georgia Tech
17. Texas
18. Michigan
19. Virginia
20. Tennessee
21. Illinois
22. Missouri
23. Houston
24. Tulane
25. Arizona State

Winner: Tulane's G5 Ascent

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Jake Retzlaff

South Florida landed at 24th in last week's ranking, earning the highest spot among all Group of Five programs.

However, that placement was short-lived. Navy sprung a 41-38 upset on USF, which tumbled out of the Top 25 and opened an opportunity for Tulane to snatch the G5's tentative bid to the Playoff.

The important reminder: It's hugely unofficial.

As with any other league front-runner, the automatic bid is contingent on winning the championship game in a few weeks. Tulane holds an 8-2 record and still must defeat Temple and Charlotte to reach that decisive contest.

But if the Green Wave win out—including a title in the American—they theoretically have the path to a CFP invitation.

Loser: The Rest of the G5

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Alonza Barnett III

James Madison, where art thou? North Texas?

Other than Tulane, there's still no love for Group of Five programs in the CFP rankings. Everyone from JMU (9-1) and North Texas (9-1) to Navy (8-2), San Diego State (8-2) and UNLV (8-2) is on the outside looking in.

Will it change soon? Find out next Tuesday! You never know where an upset may knock out teams ranked in the 20s.

Heck, one of those schools may essentially have been the first team out. That not-impossible best-case scenario of two G5 champions crashing the CFP is a conversation for another week or more.

But, man, the G5 would settle for a little more representation first.

Winner: Big 12 Representation

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Willie Fritz and Kenny Dillingham

That previous section highlighting a lack of G5 progress? Well, you can partially blame the Big 12 for that.

Cincinnati, as any rational person expected, exited the Top 25 after the loss to Arizona. But the league promptly replaced the Bearcats with No. 23 Houston (8-2) and No. 25 Arizona State (7-3).

In addition to them rising above G5 programs, the Big 12 saw three-loss ASU ahead of three-loss ACC teams Louisville, Pitt and SMU. That only helps, if needed, the at-large case of Texas Tech, which toppled both Houston and ASU.

Things change fast in college football. Never forget that.

At this particular moment, however, the Big 12 has staked a claim to the "third-best conference" in the country. That matters in the committee's talks.

Loser: Alabama's Fall

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Kalen DeBoer

Had the Crimson Tide defended home field against Oklahoma, we could've penciled them into a Playoff spot. Taking down FCS program Eastern Illinois this weekend would have pushed Bama to 10-1 on the year.

Instead, the Tide are 8-2 with a trip to rival Auburn to follow EIU.

The major problem is the selection committee put Bama essentially on the bubble. Kalen DeBoer's squad dropped from fourth in the Top 25 to 10th, falling behind not only OU but Notre Dame, too.

BYU and Utah are lurking right behind with the potential to win a Big 12 crown. Remember, too, that Miami has a comparable win over Florida State—which defeated Alabama early this season—and the highest-ranked Group of Five champion must be factored into the bracket.

Ask me for a prediction, and I think Bama eventually makes it. The path, nevertheless, is much narrower today.

Winner: Miami Buzz, Again

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Girard Pringle Jr.

We mentioned the two-loss Hurricanes in last week's reaction, pointing out their ascent over one-loss ACC counterpart Georgia Tech.

And the 'Canes are not finished rising, apparently.

Miami throttled North Carolina State 41-7 in Week 12, and the committee once again rewarded Mario Cristobal's team again. Miami hopped up two spots to 13th, leaping Vanderbilt as Texas fell down after a loss.

If the 'Canes beat Virginia Tech and Pitt on the road during the next two weekends, what's their upside? Will the committee put additional value on Miami's head-to-head triumph over Notre Dame if both teams finish 10-2?

I'll have to see that to believe it. But that's becoming a distinct possibility.