The College Football Playoff committee released its penultimate rankings Tuesday night, and there were no surprises at the top: the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes remain the No. 1 team in the country for the fifth straight week. With only one ranking left before Selection Sunday on December 7, the postseason picture is tightening, and the projected 12-team bracket is nearly locked in.

The CFP’s weekly Tuesday releases have created a steady buildup toward the sport’s first-ever expanded playoff, and this week’s update gave fans a clearer picture of who’s in line for a first-round bye, who will host an opening-round game, and who still needs help.

Projected 12-Team Bracket

(Based on current CFP rankings)

First-Round Byes

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0)

2. Indiana Hoosiers (12-0)

3. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1)

First-Round Matchups (On-Campus Games)

No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners
Winner faces: No. 1 Ohio State

No. 12 Tulane Green Wave at No. 5 Oregon Ducks
Winner faces: No. 4 Texas Tech

No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers at No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels
Winner faces: No. 3 Georgia

No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies
Winner faces: No. 2 Indiana

Full CFP Top 25 Rankings (Penultimate Release)

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0)

2. Indiana Hoosiers (12-0)

3. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1)

5. Oregon Ducks (11-1)

6. Ole Miss Rebels (11-1)

7. Texas A&M Aggies (11-1)

8. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2)

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2)

11. BYU Cougars (11-1)

12. Miami Hurricanes (10-2)

13. Texas Longhorns (9-3)

14. Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2)

15. Utah Utes (10-2)

16. USC Trojans (9-3)

17. Virginia Cavaliers (10-2)

18. Arizona Wildcats (9-3)

19. Michigan Wolverines (9-3)

20. Tulane Green Wave (10-2)

21. Houston Cougars (9-3)

22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3)

23. Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4)

24. North Texas Mean Green (11-1)

25. James Madison Dukes (11-1)

With Ohio State and Indiana perched at the top and multiple SEC and Big Ten powers filling the top 10, the final CFP rankings are set to deliver drama. Teams like Texas, BYU, and Miami remain on the edge of contention, while North Texas and Tulane continue to shake up the bracket as potential at-large qualifiers.

The stage is set for one final chaotic weekend — and the official unveiling of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.