Texas A&M falls to No. 7 in College Football Playoff rankings, trailing Ole Miss; Alabama and Notre Dame switch positions

Texas A&M has slid from No. 3 to No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings after their defeat against Texas. Despite the drop, the Aggies remain comfortably in the playoff picture and are expected to host a first-round game.

Meanwhile, Alabama and Notre Dame have swapped positions. Alabama is now No. 9, while Notre Dame sits at No. 10, even though both teams secured victories in Week 14. This reshuffle could become crucial if Alabama falls to Georgia in the SEC title game.

Ohio State and Indiana retained their positions at the top of the rankings. Following Texas A&M's loss, Georgia, Texas Tech, Oregon, and Ole Miss each moved up one spot. Ole Miss faced no ranking penalty despite Lane Kiffins departure to LSU, as the committee does not typically adjust for coaching changes.

Oklahoma remained at No. 8, just ahead of Alabama and Notre Dame. The change between Alabama and Notre Dame may appear minor but could influence Alabamas playoff chances. If Alabama loses narrowly to Georgia, it may only drop to No. 10, leaving Notre Dame as the likely final at-large team.

James Madison, with an 11-1 record, debuted at No. 25. If JMU defeats Troy in the Sun Belt title game and Duke wins against No. 17 Virginia, JMU could realistically earn a playoff spot. The top five conference champions automatically enter, making it improbable for a five-loss Duke to be ranked above one-loss James Madison. JMU is a 23.5-point favorite, while Duke is a 3.5-point underdog.

The American Conference is expected to send a team to the playoff. Tulane (No. 20) faces North Texas (No. 24) for the conference title, with the winner likely staying ahead of James Madison and potentially surpassing the ACC champion.

Final At-Large Scenarios

Teams currently at No. 12 Miami, No. 13 Texas, No. 14 Vanderbilt, and No. 15 Utah are unlikely to make the playoff, as none participate in conference championship games that could boost their rankings. CFP chair Hunter Yurachek noted idle teams can be re-ranked after championships, but no title game this weekend directly affects these teams enough for a significant jump.

No. 11 BYU has a clear path: a victory over Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game would secure a playoff spot for the Cougars, with Texas Tech likely remaining in the playoff as well. Georgia is almost certain to make the field even if they lose to Alabama. Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma hold steady in the top 10 and are also in playoff contention.

This leaves Alabama and Notre Dame on the bubble. Both will be hoping for a BYU loss to improve their chances. Historically, a two-spot drop, like SMU experienced after losing an ACC title game last year, could eliminate a team from the playoff. If Alabama drops two spots to No. 11, Notre Dame or Miami could claim the final at-large berth, depending on the Big 12 title outcome.

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Author: Sophia Brooks