2025 Bowl Predictions, Final Playoff Bracket Picture, Projections for More Top Games

Kristopher KnoxDec 6, 2025

We're one step closer to knowing which teams will have a shot at winning this year's College Football Playoff (CFP) championship.

Friday brought the first slate of conference championship games, and a couple of contests had potential CFP implications. Tulane defeated North Texas 34-21, claiming the AAC Championship in the process. James Madison defeated Troy 31-14, to win the Sun Belt title. Two conference champs have been crowned, and each has a shot at making the CFP.

Now, the collective football world will turn its attention to Saturday's slate, which will largely determine the CFP field and how other big-time bowl matchups come together.

Latest CFP Committee Rankings

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 10 CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl Classic - Ohio State vs Texas

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1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Georgia

4. Texas Tech

5. Oregon

6. Mississippi

7. Texas A&M

8. Oklahoma

9. Alabama

10. Notre Dame

11. BYU

12. Miami

13. Texas

14. Vanderbilt

15. Utah

16. USC

17. Virginia

18. Arizona

19. Michigan

20. Tulane

21. Houston

22. Georgia Tech

23. Iowa

24. North Texas

25. James Madison

Remaining Regular Season Schedule

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Alabama LB Deontae Lawson

Saturday, December 6

Big 12 Championship

11. BYU vs. 4. Texas Tech at 12 p.m. ET on ABC

Mac Championship

Miami U. vs. Western Michigan at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN

SEC Championship

3. Georgia vs. 9. Alabama at 4 p.m. ET on ABC

Big Ten Championship

1. Ohio State vs. 2. Indiana at 8 p.m. ET on Fox

ACC Championship

Duke vs. 17. Virginia at 8 p.m. ET on ABC

Saturday, December 13

Army vs. Navy at 3 p.m. ET on CBS

Saturday Preview

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BYU QB Bear Bachmeier

Friday's slate settled part of the CFP equation. Saturday's games will settle the rest. Of Saturday's five conference title games, four will carry playoff implications. Two may determine playoff berths outright.

The Big 12 matchup between BYU and Texas Tech will have a massive impact on how the playoff bracket looks when it is released on Sunday. If BYU wins, both teams will be in the playoffs, and we'll likely see either Notre Dame or Alabama ousted.

This is because the Big 12 champ will earn an automatic berth, and Texas Tech isn't going to fall all the way out of the field with two losses.

Alabama's fate will be decided in the SEC Championship Game. A win will get the Crimson Tide an automatic berth, while a convincing loss could open the door for Miami, regardless of how BYU fares. If BYU and Alabama both win, Notre Dame would be out.

Like Texas Tech, Georgia isn't going to fall out of the playoffs with a loss in a title game.

The Big Ten Championship will be all about seeding. Since first-round byes are no longer earmarked for conference champions, a one-loss Ohio State team or a one-loss Indiana team could still stay in the top four. A blowout loss by Ohio State, Indiana, or Georgia could potentially allow Oregon into the top four.

The ACC title game is essentially a play-in game for Virginia. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed to earn playoff spots, and Virginia would most likely be the 11th seed with a win. A Duke win, however, would most likely open the door for James Madison to claim the final playoff spot as a ranked champion.

While 12th-ranked Miami has a slim shot of staying in the playoff field, 13th-ranked Texas is out of luck—barring a shocking curveball from the committee. Texas, like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Mississippi, and Oregon, is out of action this week and, therefore, can't alter its resume before Selection Sunday.

However, Texas, USC, Michigan, and other premier programs that missed out on the playoff should get to end their seasons with big-time bowl games.