It was a relatively stable week in the Top 25 — just three teams, Illinois, Arizona State, and South Florida, lost to unranked opponents. Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU lost to more highly ranked teams. Texas A&M overcame a sluggish start to keep its undefeated season alive. Georgia Tech, Indiana, and Ohio State are now the only other unbeatens remaining.

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times Eastern.

Previous ranking: 1

2025 record: 7-0

Week 9 result: Idle

What’s next: Nov. 1 vs. Penn State, noon, Fox

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Previous ranking: 2

2025 record: 8-0

Week 9 result: Defeated UCLA 56-6

Stat to know: This is the third 8-0 start in program history.

What’s next: Saturday at Maryland, 3:30 p.m., CBS

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Previous ranking: 3

2025 record: 8-0

Week 9 result: Defeated LSU 49-25

Stat to know: Texas A&M has scored 40 or more points in its past four road games. That is tied for the longest streak in SEC history.

What’s next: Nov. 8 at Missouri

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Previous ranking: 4

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated South Carolina 29-22

Stat to know: Alabama trailed by 8 in the fourth quarter. That is its largest fourth-quarter comeback since 2021 at Auburn.

What’s next: Nov. 8 vs. LSU

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Previous ranking: 5

2025 record: 6-1

Week 9 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Florida (in Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m., ABC

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Previous ranking: 6

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Wisconsin 21-7

Stat to know: Oregon is 6-0 against unranked opponents this season.

What’s next: Nov. 8 at Iowa

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Previous ranking: 8

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Oklahoma 34-26

Stat to know: Ole Miss is now 3-0 against Oklahoma.

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN

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Previous ranking: 7

2025 record: 8-0

Week 9 result: Defeated Syracuse 41-16

Stat to know: Georgia Tech is 8-0 for the first time since 1966.

What’s next: Saturday at NC State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

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Previous ranking: 10

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Missouri 17-10

Stat to know: This is Vanderbilt’s first 7-1 start to a season since 1941.

What’s next: Saturday at Texas, noon, SEC Network

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Previous ranking: 9

2025 record: 6-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Stanford 42-7

Stat to know: Miami outscored Stanford 42-0 after allowing a touchdown on the opening drive.

What’s next: Saturday at SMU, noon, ESPN

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Previous ranking: 11

2025 record: 8-0

Week 9 result: Defeated Iowa State 41-27

Stat to know: This is BYU’s first time starting 8-0 in back-to-back seasons.

What’s next: Nov. 8 at Texas Tech

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Previous ranking: 12

2025 record: 5-2

Week 9 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday at Boston College, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

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Previous ranking: 14

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Oklahoma State 42-0

Stat to know: The win over Oklahoma State was Texas Tech’s first shutout against a Big 12 opponent since 2005.

What’s next: Saturday at Kansas State, 3:30 p.m., Fox

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Previous ranking: 17

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Defeated Kentucky 56-34

Stat to know: The win over Kentucky was Tennessee’s third game with three passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns this season. That puts them in a tie with Oregon for the most such games in FBS this season.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma, 7:30 p.m., ABC

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Previous ranking: 16

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated North Carolina 17-16 (OT)

Stat to know: Virginia has won six straight games, its longest streak within a season since 2007.

What’s next: Saturday at Cal, 3:45 p.m., ESPN2

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Previous ranking: 19

2025 record: 6-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Boston College 38-24

Stat to know: Louisville is 6-1 for the second time in three seasons under Jeff Brohm.

What’s next: Saturday at Virginia Tech, 3 p.m., The CW

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Previous ranking: 21

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Baylor 41-20

Stat to know: Cincinnati is on a seven-game win streak, its second-longest streak over the past five seasons.

What’s next: Saturday at Utah, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

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Previous ranking: 13

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Lost to Ole Miss 34-26

Stat to know: Xavier Robinson’s 109 rushing yards are the most by an Oklahoma player in a game this season.

What’s next: Saturday at Tennessee, 7:30 p.m., ABC

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Previous ranking: 15

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Lost to Vanderbilt 17-10

Stat to know: Both Missouri starting quarterback Beau Pribula and backup Sam Horn left the game with injuries. Horn is out for the season.

What’s next: Nov. 8 vs. Texas A&M

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Previous ranking: 22

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Defeated Mississippi State 45-38 (OT)

Stat to know: Against Mississippi State, Texas overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter for the first time since 2007.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt, noon, SEC Network

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Previous ranking: 25

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Defeated Michigan State 31-20

Stat to know: Michigan is now bowl-eligible for the fifth straight season.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Purdue, 7 p.m., BTN

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Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated Arizona State 24-16

Stat to know: Houston is 7-1 for the first time since 2021.

What’s next: Saturday vs. West Virginia, noon, FS1

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Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 5-2

Week 9 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m., NBC

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Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 6-2

Week 9 result: Defeated Colorado 53-7

Stat to know: Utah led Colorado 43-0 at halftime, the largest halftime lead without allowing a point by a Big 12 team in a conference game since 2011.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Cincinnati, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

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Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 7-1

Week 9 result: Defeated South Florida 34-31

Stat to know: Memphis outscored South Florida 17-0 in the fourth quarter to complete its second 14-point comeback this season.

What’s next: Friday at Rice, 7 p.m., ESPN2

BATON ROUGE, La. — Texas A&M coach Mike Elko isn’t interested in what the Aggies were or what they failed to accomplish during decades of underachievement. He is all about the 2025 Aggies, who are 8-0 after beating LSU 49-25 on Saturday night.

Texas A&M scored 35 straight points to pull away, empty out Tiger Stadium and celebrate with a large contingent of its fans in the southeast corner of the stadium.

“I keep saying this: It’s not about the past,” Elko said. “We got to stop, like, worrying about the past, thinking about the past, talking about the past. I’m excited for what this team is doing right now.

“This team is doing some really special things.”

The third-ranked Aggies are 8-0 for the first time since 1992, after their first win at LSU as an SEC member. Texas A&M has scored 40 or more points in four consecutive road games for the first time in team history, tying the SEC record, and finished with the most points against a ranked LSU team at Tiger Stadium since Georgia scored 52 in 2008.

“They tried to put a quote up there that I said that Death Valley was underwhelming,” Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed said. “And shoot, I guess it was. They didn’t do much to me.”

What stood out about Texas A&M’s rout was how unlikely it seemed at halftime, when No. 20 LSU led 18-14. The Aggies had gone through a miserable, albeit historically familiar, second quarter, when they had a punt blocked through the end zone for a safety, threw two interceptions and were outscored 11-0.

Texas A&M outgained LSU 258-189 at the half, but its mistakes created a halftime deficit for the first time this season. The Aggies’ only win in their previous 10 games while trailing at the half came against LSU last season.

“I said, ‘You’re the better team, but you have to play better football, and if you don’t play better football, you’re going to let one slip away tonight,'” Elko said of his halftime message.

Added Reed: “Elko definitely said some things. I can’t really remember every detail. It was aggressive, though, for sure.”

Reed felt Texas A&M was the superior team from the start of the game, but the Aggies had to prove it. They did it with their most complete quarter of the season, outscoring LSU 21-0 and outgaining the Tigers 132-14. The highlight came from star wide receiver KC Concepcion, who returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.

Texas A&M punted just once in the second half and forced four consecutive LSU punts. Elko credited the strong finish to strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt, who held the same role at LSU from 2000 to 2021 until being ousted during the coaching transition from Ed Orgeron to Brian Kelly.

“Moffitt wanted this game just as bad as anyone else,” said Reed, who finished with 202 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, and 108 rushing yards and 2 scores. “I remember Thursday, he kind of brought in a tackling dummy with Brian Kelly’s face on it. Yeah, this one was an important one to him.”

Some LSU fans chanted for Kelly’s firing in the closing minutes as the Tigers, who began the season with national championship aspirations, lost for the third time in four games. LSU had been 20-1 in night games under Kelly.

“20-2,” Elko said when a reporter asked about Kelly’s record.

LSU is 4-5 in its past nine SEC games.

“Our fans are disappointed like any fan base would be,” said Kelly, who turned 64 on Saturday. “It stops with the head coach, so that responsibility falls with me.”

Elko is keenly aware of what Texas A&M has been, and what places like Tiger Stadium have represented for the program. He was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator in 2019 when LSU thumped the Aggies 50-7 in Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow’s final home game on the way to the national championship. Texas A&M had other losses in this stadium, big and small, stretching back to 1994, when it won 18-13.

“I told the kids this the other day, ‘I was the starting point guard on my high school basketball team the last time [Texas A&M] won here,'” Elko said.

He stopped short of saying he expected an 8-0 start, or such a dominant win in such a house of horrors for past Aggies teams. But Texas A&M’s different paths to victory this season — a last-minute comeback at Notre Dame, hard-nosed victories against Auburn and Arkansas, several blowouts — make Elko confident that his team can check all the boxes of a championship contender.

Texas A&M enters an open week before a November that will determine whether it secures its first College Football Playoff appearance.

“There’s definitely still a lot of things to be proven, and I feel like a lot of people in this country still don’t respect us as a team,” Reed said. “So no, we’re not trying to prove anybody wrong. We’re just going to go prove ourselves right.”

Nowhere in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s protocol does it refer to anything about a team’s history and tradition — or lack thereof. It’s not supposed to care that Vanderbilt hasn’t been 7-1 in 84 years.

The 12 people in that room will absolutely care, though, that Vanderbilt is 7-1 now — with back-to-back wins against ranked SEC opponents LSU and Missouri. Vanderbilt — the story of the season — is on the brink of making its first appearance in any CFP ranking during the playoff era.

And not only will the Commodores crack the committee’s top 25, but they also will have a legitimate chance to make their debut in the coveted top 12 when the first ranking is released Nov. 4. If the playoff were today, they would already be in. A lot can — and will — change with one Saturday remaining before the first ranking is revealed, but here is a snapshot of what it might look like through Week 9 results.

Jump to:
Ranking | Bracket

Projecting the top 12

Why they could be here: The Buckeyes remain safe at the top after a bye week, as Indiana’s home win against a UCLA team that is now 3-5 wouldn’t be enough to sway the committee into flipping them. Ohio State entered Week 9 ranked No. 1 in the country in total efficiency, No. 1 in defensive efficiency, and No. 6 in offensive efficiency. The Buckeyes also have three Big Ten road wins to Indiana’s two, and are No. 1 in ESPN’s Game Control metric with a slight edge over No. 2 Indiana. Ohio State’s win at Washington would also be strongly valued by the committee, as the Huskies improved to 6-2 on Saturday.

Why they could be lower: Indiana keeps making statements – even against unranked teams like UCLA. The Hoosiers’ win at Oregon is better than Ohio State’s victory against Texas, even though the Longhorns managed an epic overtime comeback Saturday at Mississippi State. The selection committee also compares common opponents, and while Ohio State and Indiana beat Illinois with ease, the Hoosiers did it in historic fashion, handing coach Bret Bielema the worst loss of his career.

Need to know: Ohio State’s spot at the top isn’t a guarantee as the season progresses. If Alabama runs the table and wins the SEC, the selection committee will at least consider the Tide for the No. 1 spot. Alabama entered Saturday with the No. 2 toughest schedule in the country — Ohio State was No. 33. The question would be if enough committee members could forgive the season-opening loss to Florida State, which has looked worse every week. So while this pecking order has been fairly stable with the Big Ten at the top, the possibility of shuffling remains — and that includes a promotion for the Hoosiers, too, if they finish as undefeated Big Ten champs.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Michigan. The Buckeyes are trying to avoid a fifth straight loss to their rivals.

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Why they could be here: The Hoosiers asserted themselves against a recharged UCLA team, leaving no doubt they were better in another lopsided win. Indiana still owns the best win in the country, Oct. 11 at Oregon, and the historic 63-10 rout against Illinois is another separation point between the Hoosiers and other contenders. They don’t have a nonconference victory, though, that stacks up against Ohio State’s season-opening win against Texas.

Why they could be higher: Indiana’s sheer domination of UCLA was yet another statement of the Hoosiers’ relentless consistency. They don’t play down to their opponents and have beaten everyone but Iowa by double digits. The 30-20 triumph at Oregon is better than Ohio State’s home win against the Longhorns on the overall résumé, and IU entered Saturday ranked No. 2 in the country in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric — just ahead of Ohio State.

Need to know: The Hoosiers have passed their most difficult tests of the season. Their task now is to avoid what would be a shocking November upset. None of their remaining opponents are ranked and only Maryland (4-3) is above .500. If the Hoosiers run the table and play for the Big Ten championship, they should be a CFP lock. Even if they lose the title game, they should be in contention for a top-four finish and first-round bye.

Toughest remaining game: If Indiana is a playoff team, it shouldn’t lose in November. Three of IU’s last four games are on the road, but Maryland has lost three straight, Penn State has lost four straight and Purdue has lost six in a row. The Hoosiers’ last home game is Nov. 15 against a struggling Wisconsin team. Indiana has at least a 70% chance to win each remaining game.

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Why they could be here: The Tide avoided an upset on the road against a scrappy South Carolina team, preserving its position as what should be the committee’s top one-loss team. Alabama hasn’t lost since its season opener at Florida State and has four wins against ranked opponents. The Tide entered Saturday ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric, No. 2 in strength of schedule and in the top 15 in offensive and defensive efficiency. The win against Georgia will keep the Tide above the Bulldogs as long as their records remain the same because of the committee’s tiebreaker protocol.

Why they could be lower: The loss to Florida State happened, and the Noles are 3-4. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is still undefeated after its convincing road win at LSU, further enhancing its résumé with a second road victory against a ranked opponent.

Need to know: Alabama has a much-needed bye week and won’t play again before the selection committee releases its first ranking Nov. 4. This eight-game résumé is what the group will use to determine where Alabama starts.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 13 vs. Oklahoma. The Tide should be favored to prevail at home, but it’s a week after hosting LSU. Alabama has at least a 72% chance to win each of its remaining games, according to ESPN Analytics. Alabama and Georgia have the best chances in the conference to reach the SEC title game.

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Why they could be here: With the win at LSU on Saturday, the Aggies have compiled one of the most impressive résumés in the country, further cementing their place in the top four. Texas A&M now has two road victories against ranked opponents, including the Sept. 13 nonconference win at Notre Dame. It was also their second straight SEC road triumph after escaping Arkansas. The Aggies are No. 1 in the country in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric and entered Week 9 ranked No. 8 in Game Control. Even with one loss, though, Alabama has four wins against ranked opponents. Texas A&M could be held back by the committee because LSU and Notre Dame are the only opponents it has defeated with winning records. Everyone else is a combined 20-26.

Why they could be higher: The Aggies are undefeated and some committee members will have a hard time forgetting Alabama’s loss to Florida State.

Need to know: The Aggies and Tide don’t play each other during the regular season but could settle the debate in the SEC championship game. Texas A&M also doesn’t play Georgia during the regular season.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 at Texas. The Longhorns’ playoff hopes could be on the line, and finishing the season on the road against a rival is never easy.

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Why they could be here: The Bulldogs had a bye week, but their Oct. 18 victory against Ole Miss looks even better today after the Rebels won at Oklahoma. Georgia’s head-to-head win against Ole Miss will keep it above the Rebels as long as their records are comparable because of the tiebreaker in the committee’s protocol. A three-point loss to Alabama will also keep the Bulldogs below the Tide for the same reason. The overtime road win against what should be a CFP Top 25 Tennessee team adds to their résumé and helps separate Georgia from other one-loss contenders.

Why they could be lower: Lopsided wins against Marshall and Austin Peay aren’t going to impress anyone in the committee meeting room. Kentucky and Auburn have at least four defeats each. The Bulldogs entered their bye week No. 6 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.

Need to know: Rival Georgia Tech has the best chance of any team to reach the ACC championship game, which means Georgia has an opportunity to possibly enhance its résumé with a victory against the eventual ACC champion or runner-up.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 vs. Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated and pushed the Bulldogs to eight overtimes last year. This year’s game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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Why they could be here: The Rebels earned their first road win against a ranked SEC opponent Saturday at Oklahoma, adding to an already impressive résumé that includes victories against Tulane and LSU. The eight-point loss at Georgia on Oct. 18 is the only blemish, and it’s one of the best ways to lose in the eyes of the committee — on the road to a ranked opponent in a close game. That head-to-head result, though, will keep Ole Miss behind Georgia as long as their records remain the same.

Why they could be lower: The Rebels entered Week 9 ranked No. 71 in defensive efficiency, well below most other contenders here. Typically, top playoff teams rank in the top 10 to 15 in offense and defense. Ole Miss had allowed 22 points per game through the first seven games and was No. 108 in the country with 10 sacks. The Rebels also are one of the most penalized teams in the nation, giving up 69 yards per game through the first seven games.

Need to know: In this projection, Ole Miss would earn the No. 6 seed, which would mean a first-round home game as the higher seed. The Rebels might need help to get into the SEC championship game because of the setback to Georgia but shouldn’t lose again. Ole Miss likely won’t face another ranked opponent this season.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 at Mississippi State. The Egg Bowl is always interesting, but a loss to the Bulldogs could mean a first-round road trip instead of a home game — or getting bumped out of the bracket entirely.

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Why they could be here: The Canes got off to a slow start at home against Stanford, but eventually pulled away to avoid what would have been a devastating defeat to a sub-.500 team. The Hurricanes rebounded from their Oct. 17 loss to Louisville, and still have a decent résumé, but it’s lost some of its luster. The win against South Florida remains respectable, but the Bulls chances of winning the American took a hit Saturday with their loss to Memphis. Florida has already fired coach Billy Napier, and Florida State has lost four straight. Miami’s season-opening win against Notre Dame, though, is still one of the best nonconference wins in the country and continues to help separate the Canes from other contenders with weaker schedules. It also helped Miami that Louisville beat Boston College and should be a one-loss CFP Top 25 team, softening the blow of that loss a little. And Miami is still performing well, ranking in the top 12 in offensive and defensive efficiency.

Why they could be lower: Some selection committee members could argue that Vanderbilt has a better résumé than Oregon and Miami as far as one-loss teams. Even before the Commodores earned their second victory against a ranked opponent, they were No. 11, sandwiched between No. 10 Oregon and No. 12 Miami in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.

Need to know: The Canes will leave their home state for the first time all season when they travel to SMU on Saturday.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Pitt. The Panthers have captured four straight games, including a stunning 53-34 win against NC State on Saturday.

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Why they could be here: The 10-point home loss to Indiana is the only blemish, and the committee would consider that a decent loss. It would also still look somewhat favorable upon the double overtime win at Penn State, considering the Nittany Lions still had their head coach and it was an unforgiving environment and crowd. It certainly isn’t a statement win, but nobody in the room is going to penalize Oregon for it, either. The Ducks entered Week 9 ranked No. 10 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.

Why they could be lower: The Ducks came out flat against a struggling Wisconsin team and don’t have a lot on their résumé to compare with other one-loss teams. Vanderbilt has two better wins, and undefeated BYU can argue better victories against Utah and Iowa State. The committee would point out an FCS win against Montana State, and Oklahoma State and Oregon State are a combined 2-14. Overall, Oregon entered Saturday with the No. 31 strength of schedule — just slightly ahead of No. 34 Vanderbilt.

Need to know: Oregon has more chances to impress the selection committee in November, with games against Iowa, USC and at Washington looming — all teams with winning records and potentially ranked in the CFP Top 25. The committee doesn’t project ahead, though, and Oregon has a bye week heading into the first ranking. Don’t be surprised if the Ducks are lower than some might expect the defending Big Ten champions to be when the first ranking is revealed Nov. 4. Last year’s results don’t impact the committee’s decisions this season, but schedules do. Oregon doesn’t have a lot on its résumé to impress the group. Eye test will play a role.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Washington. The 6-2 Huskies have lost only to Ohio State and on the road against Michigan.

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Why they could be here: The committee would have a difficult decision, putting the one-loss Commodores ahead of two undefeated teams, but could justify it because Vanderbilt’s two best wins are better than BYU’s wins against Utah and Iowa State — and better than any of Georgia Tech’s wins. The lone loss was to Alabama, which should be the committee’s top one-loss team. The Commodores have now won back-to-back games against ranked SEC opponents. They also earned a convincing 31-7 win at South Carolina, which just pushed Alabama to the brink. Vanderbilt would be compared with one-loss Texas Tech, and the Commodores have better wins than the Red Raiders, and a better loss, as Texas Tech lost to Arizona State.

Why they could be lower: The committee could reward the undefeated Big 12 and ACC teams simply because they haven’t lost yet.

Need to know: This position could change quickly, as Vandy is at Texas on Saturday, it’s last chance to make a first impression on the selection committee before its first ranking. Vandy’s last two games against ranked SEC opponents are both on the road; Saturday at Texas and in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29 at Tennessee.

Toughest remaining game: Saturday at Texas. The Longhorns are desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive by avoiding a third loss, and ESPN Analytics gives them at least a 70% chance to win.

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Why they could be here: BYU entered Week 9 ranked No. 60 in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric, which would be a significant drawback in the committee meeting room — but it’s ahead of Georgia Tech in both schedule strength and Strength of Record, where BYU was No. 5 on Saturday. BYU rallied at Iowa State to earn its fourth road win of the season and remains the only undefeated team left in the Big 12. Its best wins, though, are against Utah and Iowa State, which are both over .500 but borderline CFP Top 25 teams.

Why they could be lower: The committee would discuss an FCS win against Portland State, and a win against a sub-.500 team in West Virginia. BYU also needed double overtime to win at unranked, three-loss Arizona on Oct. 11.

Need to know: This was BYU’s last chance to impress the selection committee before the first ranking is revealed on Nov. 4 because they have a bye week on Saturday. The committee will have an undefeated Big 12 team to consider for its first of six rankings.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 8 at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders rebounded from their loss at Arizona State with a convincing win against a beleaguered Oklahoma State team on Saturday. BYU and Texas Tech have the highest chances to reach the Big 12 title game, according to ESPN Analytics, followed by Cincinnati. The Cougars have to play both opponents on the road during the regular season, but have a bye week to prepare for the Nov. 8 game at Texas Tech.

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Why they could be here: Undefeated Georgia Tech entered this week ranked No. 72 in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric, which will probably keep the Jackets lower in the committee’s top 12. Their best nonconference win is at Colorado, and the committee would note an FCS win against Gardner-Webb. Even without three injured starters, though, Georgia Tech pulled away to beat Syracuse soundly on Saturday — and the committee considers injuries to key players. The Jackets needed a convincing win after struggling multiple times to get separation against unranked opponents.

Why they could be higher: The Yellow Jackets would likely be behind BYU because the Cougars have better wins, but they could both be above Vanderbilt if more committee members keep the Commodores lower because of their loss to Alabama.

Need to know: Without any CFP Top 25 wins on their résumé, style points could come in handy in November in case Georgia Tech loses to rival Georgia and doesn’t win the ACC. A win against Georgia, though, would impress the committee any way it happened. That would make it much easier for the group to include Georgia Tech as an at-large team if the Jackets’ lone loss is to the ACC champion.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 vs. Georgia. The Yellow Jackets took their rival to eight overtimes last year before losing, 44-42, in Athens.

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Why they could be here: The Irish remain on the bubble following their bye week, but the Oct. 18 home win against USC catapulted them back into the conversation. It was their first win against a ranked opponent, and the fifth straight win since an 0-2 start. Notre Dame was No. 9 overall in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric entering Saturday, but some committee members will have trouble voting the Irish much higher because of the two losses — even though they were by a combined four points to two ranked opponents. The victory against 6-2 Boise State was one of Notre Dame’s best wins, and that was part of a string of three games in which the Irish defense held its opponents to 13 points or fewer.

Why they could be lower: With the losses to Miami and Texas A&M, Notre Dame checked in at No. 18 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric entering Saturday. It didn’t help that Miami lost to Louisville.

Need to know: If the playoff were today, Notre Dame would be bumped out to make room for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, which is guaranteed a spot in the 12-team field. Right now that team — Memphis as the projected American champion — would be ranked outside the top 12. As an independent, Notre Dame can’t lock up a spot in the playoff as one of the five conference champions, so its only path is through an at-large bid.

Toughest remaining game: Nov. 15 at Pitt. Notre Dame is projected to win each of its remaining games, but this one is on the road against an ACC team above .500. The Irish entered Week 9 with the best chance in the country to win out (68.4%).

Bracket

Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:

First-round byes

No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Indiana
No. 3 Alabama (SEC champ)
No. 4 Texas A&M

First-round games

On campus, Dec. 19 and 20

No. 12 Memphis (American champ) at No. 5 Georgia
No. 11 Georgia Tech at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 BYU (Big 12 champ) at No. 7 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 9 Vanderbilt at No. 8 Oregon

Quarterfinal games

At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

No. 12 Memphis/No. 5 Georgia winner vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
No. 11 Georgia Tech/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Alabama
No. 10 BYU/No. 7 Miami winner vs. No. 2 Indiana
No. 9 Vanderbilt/No. 8 Oregon winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State