It is what it is. Until water finds its level, the college football world and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee is not going to give the Georgia Bulldogs the time of day they deserve. Entering Week 12, Georgia is 8-1 on the season and 6-1 in SEC with two ranked wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee. Their lone defeat came at home to arch nemesis Alabama, who is ranked ahead of them.
That being said, everyone with a pulse seems to have come to grips with the fact that Georgia is not only going to make the 12-team playoff, but it will be one of roughly six teams in the tournament that could conceivably win it. Of course, it will always come down to seeding and the corresponding matchups. For now, all Georgia can do is win the rest of its games and hope for the easiest pathway.
Heading into the 12th week of the 2025 college football season, here are the latest playoff rankings.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)
- Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)
- Oregon Ducks (8-1)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2)
- Texas Longhorns (7-2)
- Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)
- BYU Cougars (8-1)
- Utah Utes (7-2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (8-2)
- Miami Hurricanes (7-2)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-1)
- USC Trojans (7-2)
- Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
- Virginia Cavaliers (8-2)
- Louisville Cardinals (7-2)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (6-3)
- South Florida Bulls (7-2)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2)
Now that we have seen the top 25 teams, let's take a look at who would be making the playoff today.
Projected College Football Playoff bracket after first playoff rankings
Based on the College Football Playoff's requirements, these would be the 12 teams making it in.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0): Projected Big Ten champion
- Indiana Hoosiers (10-0): Projected Big Ten runner-up
- Texas A&M Aggies (9-0): Projected SEC champion
- Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1): Projected SEC runner-up
- Georgia Bulldogs (8-1): Projected SEC at-large
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1): Projected Big 12 champion
- Ole Miss Rebels (9-1): Projected SEC at-large
- Oregon Ducks (8-1): Projected Big Ten at-large
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2): Projected national independent at-large
- Texas Longhorns (7-2): Projected SEC at-large
- Miami Hurricanes (7-2): Projected ACC champion
- South Florida Bulls (7-2): Projected AAC/Group of Five champion
For a bit more context, these would be the first four teams out of the playoff field for this week.
- 13. Oklahoma Sooners (7-2): SEC
- 14. BYU Cougars (8-1): Projected Big 12 runner-up
- 15. Utah Utes (7-2): Big 12
- 16. Vanderbilt Commodores (8-2): SEC
Georgia is ranked and seeded No. 5 for the second week in a row. While this does not come as much of a surprise, it was interesting to see Texas Tech move up a spot to No. 6 and push Ole Miss down one to No. 7 Should the Red Raiders win the Big 12 with a 12-1 mark and only a conference loss to Arizona State, that might be enough to merit them getting a top-four or five seed in the tournament.
Now that we know who would be making the playoff if the season ended today, onto the matchups!
Projected College Football Playoff first-round matchups and byes
Here are all four teams getting first-round byes, as well as the four first-round matchups of note.
- No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (BYE)
- No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (BYE)
- No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (BYE)
- No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (BYE)
- No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 12 South Florida Bulls
- No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 11 Miami Hurricanes
- No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 10 Texas Longhorns
- No. 8 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama would all be getting first-round byes. Georgia would host AAC champion South Florida out of the Group of Five. Texas Tech would get Miami in their clash in Lubbock. Ole Miss would host Texas in a battle of SEC behemoths. Oregon would welcome Notre Dame to Autzen. Chalk may prevail in all of these games, but we could have an upset or two here.
Georgia should get past South Florida comfortably at home. Texas Tech vs. Miami could come down to the wire, but the Red Raiders should prevail anyway. Texas may give Ole Miss all it has, but Arch Manning is not winning in the house Grandpa Red built. To be frank, Notre Dame could seriously knock off a grossly overrated Oregon team. Then again, Notre Dame could be running out of gas.
So yes, chalk prevails with every higher-seeded team advancing to the national quarterfinals in this.
Projected College Football Playoff bracket national quarterfinals
Let's take a look at who could be playing who in the first four of the New Year's Six Bowl games.
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 8 Oregon Ducks
- Orange Bowl: No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels
- Cotton Bowl: No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies vs. No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Sugar Bowl: No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs
Ohio State would take the Rose Bowl, where they would face Oregon in a rematch of last year's game. Indiana would then go with the Orange Bowl, awaiting Ole Miss in Greater Miami. Texas A&M may prefer the Cotton Bowl, but it will take the Sugar Bowl if it is forced upon them. They will face in-state rival Texas Tech. Cotton or Sugar, it does not matter. Georgia will have to face Alabama once again.
Does chalk prevail in this round? Probably yes in all likelihood. Oregon is a fake tough team, while Ohio State is built for this. Indiana may have a bit of a nastier edge to them that Ole Miss simply does not have under Lane Kiffin. Texas A&M has recruited at a high level for a little while longer than Texas Tech. Until we see some major wholesale changes, why should be expect Georgia to beat Alabama?
Yes, chalk prevails out of the national quarterfinals and into the national semfinals in this here bracket.
Projected College Football Playoff bracket national semifinals
Here is who will be playing who in the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl as part of the semifinals.
- Peach Bowl: No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies
Ohio State may take the Peach Bowl, but it should do so at its own risk. The Buckeyes would be facing Alabama in the Crimson Tide's home away from home. This could be an incredible game, but there is a chance Alabama may run out of gas to a slightly deeper Ohio State team. Whoever wins this game could very well go on to win the national championship. It may be closer than the title bout anyway.
As for the Fiesta Bowl, it will be a battle of totally untrodden territory for both the Hoosiers and the Aggies. These two new kids on the block may just be happy to be here, but a title bout appearance down in Miami is on the table here. In the end, Indiana has not recruited to the degree that any of the other final four teams have. Texas A&M may be able to survive the body blows a bit more than them.
So it will be Big Ten champion Ohio State taking on SEC champion Texas A&M for the ultimate prize.
Projected College Football Playoff bracket national semifinals
Make sure you have your popcorn ready because we could be in for a doozy down in South Beach!
- College Football Playoff National Championship Game: No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies
Yes, it will be last year's defending champions going up against the best college football team in Texas oil money can by. Expect for the point spread to be inconsequential, as either team could win this national title bout. That being said, Ohio State has been in the College Football Playoff end zone before it is a first time for everything for the Aggies. It is why Ohio State would repeat in this bracket.
To bring this all back home to Georgia, if the Dawgs were to somehow get past Alabama in the national quarterfinals, they might have the depth, coaching and overall firepower to win the College Football Playoff. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M have the bodies to do it. Truth be told, if this were the bracket, there really are not easy outs. Everybody will have to earn each win.
For that reason, there is a non-zero chance that Georgia could end Alabama's season in January.