No. 12 Tulane at No. 5 Texas Tech
The winner advances to face No. 4 Georgia in the quarterfinals.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma
This matchup decides another quarterfinal spot in the expanded playoff field.
The updated College Football Playoff rankings set the stage for an intense postseason. Mid-ranked teams like Tulane and Notre Dame face powerhouse squads early, while programs such as Georgia await challengers in later rounds.
"The playoff field reflects both conference strength and consistent season performance," stated the committee’s overview of rankings.
Author’s Summary:
The 2025–26 playoff bracket opens with Tulane vs. Texas Tech and Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma as early test cases for balance between emerging contenders and top programs.