Everything we thought we knew about college football hierarchy just got tossed out the window. If you told a fan three years ago that the Indiana Hoosiers would be sitting at the top of the mountain with a perfect record heading into a national title game, they’d have asked to see your crystal ball for defects. But here we are. The 2025 season wasn’t just a "chaotic year"—it was a fundamental restructuring of how the sport looks under the new 12-team playoff format.
Honestly, the top 24 college football teams this year have proven that the transfer portal and the expanded bracket didn't just help the big guys; they created a middle-class uprising.
The Shock at the Summit
Indiana is currently 15-0. Let that sink in. Under Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers didn't just "get lucky" with a soft schedule; they hammered Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and then steamrolled their way through the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl. It's the kind of story that usually belongs in a movie, but the stats back it up. They aren't just winning; they are dominating with a balanced attack that most SEC teams would envy.
On the other side, you have Miami. The Hurricanes are 13-2 and scheduled to face Indiana for the title on Monday night. Mario Cristobal finally found the formula, though it wasn't without drama. They had to survive a brutal Cotton Bowl against Ohio State where they were actually 10-point underdogs.
Then you have the usual suspects. Georgia and Ohio State are still there, hovering at the #2 and #3 spots in the AP poll. They both finished 12-2. It feels weird to say a 12-win season is a "disappointment" for the Buckeyes, but after losing to Indiana twice in one season, the vibe in Columbus is... tense.
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Breaking Down the Top Tier
- Indiana (15-0): The undisputed kings of 2025 so far.
- Georgia (12-2): Kirby Smart’s squad lost a heartbreaker to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, but their talent remains absurd.
- Ohio State (12-2): Still elite, but the "Indiana Problem" is going to haunt Ryan Day all offseason.
- Texas Tech (12-2): Joey McGuire has turned Lubbock into a death trap for visiting teams.
- Oregon (13-2): Dan Lanning’s Ducks were a play or two away from the championship.
Why the Middle of the Top 24 College Football Rankings Matters
If you look at the #10 through #20 spots, that’s where the real stories are. Vanderbilt is ranked #13. Read that again. The Commodores finished 10-3 and are a legitimate top-15 program right now. Diego Pavia became a folk hero in Nashville, leading them to wins that seemed mathematically impossible in August.
And what about James Madison? They’re sitting at #19 with a 12-2 record. They didn't just "show up" for their playoff game against Oregon; they put up 34 points and made the Ducks sweat for three quarters. This is the new reality of the top 24 college football landscape. You can no longer ignore the Sun Belt or the AAC.
The Rankings Shift (Late Season)
| Rank | Team | Record | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ole Miss | 13-2 | Beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 11-2 | Only losses to Indiana and Miami |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 10-3 | Brent Venables finally found his defense |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 10-2 | Opted out of a bowl after playoff snub? (Actually lost to Indiana) |
| 10 | Miami (FL) | 13-2 | Playing for the National Championship |
The Disappointments and the "Almosts"
Texas was the preseason #1. They finished #14. For most schools, 10-3 is a dream. For the Longhorns, it feels like a missed opportunity, especially with the talent they had on that roster. They did manage a bowl win over Michigan, which took some of the sting out of it, but the "Texas is back" talk has cooled to a simmer.
Michigan themselves had a weird year. 9-4. They looked like world-beaters against Ohio State—because of course they did—but struggled with consistency against the rest of the Big Ten. They currently sit at #18.
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Then there's the Group of Five race. Tulane (#17) and Navy (#22) both stayed in the conversation late into December. Tulane's 11-3 record is a testament to how well that program has stayed afloat despite coaching changes.
Navigating the 12-Team Fallout
The committee had a nightmare this year. When they released the final bracket on December 7, people were furious. BYU was 12-2 but dropped to #12 after losing the Big 12 title game. Meanwhile, Miami was jumped into the #10 spot despite not playing that weekend.
It’s clear now that the "top 24" isn't just about who has the best recruits. It’s about who can survive a 16-game season. By the time we got to the quarterfinals, teams like Alabama (#11) were clearly running on fumes. The Crimson Tide got absolutely smoked by Indiana 38-3 in the Rose Bowl. It was the fewest points a Kalen DeBoer team has scored in years.
What to Watch Next
If you’re looking at these rankings and wondering what happens in 2026, keep an eye on the quarterback movement.
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- Drew Mestemaker at North Texas threw for over 4,300 yards.
- Darian Mensah at Duke was just shy of 4,000.
- Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss proved he’s the real deal.
The talent is spreading out. The "blue bloods" don't own the top 24 college football rankings like they used to.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for next season, stop looking at recruiting rankings alone. They lied to us about Texas and Alabama this year. Instead:
- Watch the Trenches: The reason Indiana succeeded wasn't just "magic." They had the 4th best offensive line continuity in the country. Look for teams returning 4+ starters on the O-line.
- Follow the "Second Year" Coaches: Willie Fritz at Houston took them from 4 wins to 10 in his second year. Brent Brennan at Arizona went from 4 wins to 9. The "Year 2 Jump" is the most predictable metric in college football right now.
- Value Depth over Stars: With the 12-team playoff, your backup linebacker is just as important as your starting QB by week 14.
The 2025 season showed us that the old guard is vulnerable. Whether Indiana finishes the job against Miami or not, the map of college football has been redrawn. You've got to look at the teams in the 15-24 range today, because one of them is likely to be next year's Indiana.