It may be hard to believe, but we are already in November, and the race toward the College Football Playoff is heating up quickly. With conference title races getting tight and the cream starting to rise to the top, the next several weeks of football are going to be incredibly entertaining.
For the Oregon Ducks, a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game may be a long shot at this point, but they still have a great chance to get into the playoff, should they win the remaining games on their schedule. However, if they lose one of their next four games, do they still get in?
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That’s a question that might be hinted at this week when the first batch of College Football Playoff rankings comes out. Depending on where Oregon is ranked on Tuesday night, we might get a semblance of an answer.
The same can be said for a lot of teams, as we learn a lot about what the College Football Playoff committee thinks of the top teams in the nation in these first rankings, which will be released on ESPN on Tuesday night. For starters, here is our prediction of how those rankings will look. It is important to note that this isn’t how we project the final rankings to shake out, but what they will look like on Tuesday.
*Note: In a change from last year’s playoff, the committee went to a straight-seeding format, meaning that the top-four seeds get a first-round bye, rather than the four highest-ranked conference champions.
No. 1 Seed — Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.
Analysis: It’s not hard to argue that the Ohio State Buckeyes have been the best team in the nation this year. They undoubtedly have the best defense in all of college football, and with Julian Sayin coming into his own at QB, they look like another championship contender this year.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 1
Projected Round 1 Matchup: BYE
For more Ohio State news and analysis, check out Buckeyes Wire!
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Analysis: Indiana is the team that can challenge Ohio State as the best team in the nation this year. They have some impressive and dominant wins almost every week of the season. The two will likely face each other in the Big Ten Championship Game, which is going to be an incredibly fun game to watch.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 2
Projected Round 1 Matchup: BYE
Sep 13, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) looks to make a pass during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Analysis: Texas A&M has been one of the surprise teams of the year, with Marcel Reed playing himself into the Heisman conversation this year and getting some major wins in the SEC. They will definitely get some respect from the playoff committee in this first batch of rankings.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 3
Projected Round 1 Matchup: BYE
For more Texas A&M news and analysis, check out Aggies Wire!
Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) passes against Wisconsin at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Analysis: When Alabama is clicking, they certainly look like one of the best teams in the nation, especially with Ty Simpson under center. However, they have sometimes struggled in the games they aren’t supposed to with Kalen DeBoer. Regardless, they have done enough early on this season to be ranked near the top here.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 4
Projected Round 1 Matchup: BYE
For more Alabama news and analysis, check out Roll Tide Wire!
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Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 13, 2025.
Analysis: Georgia hasn’t quite looked as dominant as they have in years past, but they are as relentless, and have found a way to hang around in games and win several games coming from behind. It comes as no surprise that they will be here near the top of the rankings once again.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 5
Projected Round 1 Matchup: vs. Memphis Tigers
For more Georgia news and analysis, check out UGA Wire!
No. 6 Seed — Oregon Ducks
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore throws a pass before the game as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Analysis: It’s going to be interesting to see where the Ducks are ranked in this first set of polls from the committee. Their only loss on the schedule comes against the No. 2 team in the nation, but they don’t have any quality wins on the schedule after Penn State has fallen by the wayside over the past few weeks.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 6
Projected Round 1 Matchup: vs. Virginia Cavaliers
For more Oregon news and analysis, check out Ducks Wire!
No. 7 Seed — Ole Miss Rebels
Sep 27, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Analysis: Ole Miss is still one of the top teams in the SEC despite their loss to Georgia last month, and they have several quality wins that undoubtedly will put it in the rankings here to start November.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 7
Projected Round 1 Matchup: vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
No. 8 Seed — BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars football head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates with the team after winning 41-27 over Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
Analysis: BYU has done enough to put itself in the rankings to start the year, but it will be interesting to see what happens next week, after the Cougars have a showdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders this weekend.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 8
Projected Round 1 Matchup: vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
No. 9 Seed — Texas Tech Red Raiders
MANHATTAN, KS – NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after beating the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 1, 2025 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Analysis: Much like BYU, I want to see where Texas Tech is in next week’s rankings after a game against the Cougars in Week 11. With a win, they definitely will move up, but a loss might knock them just outside with a chance to get back in the mix late in the year.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 9
Projected Round 1 Matchup: at BYU Cougars
No. 10 Seed — Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Aug 31, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Analysis: After a brutal 0-2 start to the year, Notre Dame has fought back and gotten in the mix once again, and they look like a team that could potentially compete with some of the best teams in the postseason. However, without a conference title to play for, it’s always going to be interesting to see where the committee puts them.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 10
Projected Round 1 Matchup: at Ole Miss Rebels
For more Notre Dame news and analysis, check out Fighting Irish Wire!
No. 11 Seed — Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) passes the ball in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Analysis: The ACC is wide open right now after Miami lost its second game of the year, so seeing who takes the conference title is going to be fascinating. It could be Virginia, it could be Georgia Tech, it could be Pittsburgh at this point. At the moment, though, the Cavaliers are in pole position.
US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 11
Projected Round 1 Matchup: at Oregon Ducks
No. 12 Seed — Memphis Tigers
Oct 31, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Memphis Tigers quarterback Brendon Lewis (2) passes during warmups before playing against the Rice Owls at Rice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Analysis: When it comes to the Group of 6, there have been several teams that threw their name into contention, whether it was Tulane, USF, or Navy. However, Memphis has been the most impressive of all of them, so I think they will get the nod here early on.
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US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking: 23
Projected Round 1 Matchup: at Georgia Bulldogs
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Predicting Oregon Ducks’ first College Football Playoff rankings spot
