Projecting the College Football Playoff Rankings for Week 13

Here's a look at how the top 25 may shake out as November's halfway point passes.

Kirby Smart during Georgia's game against Tennessee on Nov. 16, 2024. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

It feels like fans have said this ad nauseam this season, but it remains true: just when you think you have college football figured out, its beautiful unpredictability snaps into focus.

Here's a stab at guessing how the College Football Playoff top 25 might come together when the next set of rankings are released Tuesday.

The Projected Ranking

1. Oregon Ducks: 11-0 (8-0 Big Ten)

This Week: Won 16–13 at Wisconsin

Week 13: Idle

2. Ohio State Buckeyes: 9-1 (6-1 Big Ten)

This Week: Won 31–7 at Northwestern

Week 13: Home vs. Indiana

3. Texas Longhorns: 9-1 (5-1 SEC)

This Week: Won 20–10 at Arkansas

Week 13: Home vs. Kentucky

4. Penn State Nittany Lions: 9-1 (6-1 Big Ten)

This Week: Won 49–10 at Purdue

Week 13: Away at Minnesota

5. Indiana Hoosiers: 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten)

This Week: Idle

Week 13: Away at Ohio State

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9-1

This Week: Won 35–14 vs. Virginia

Week 13: Neutral Site vs. Army

7. Miami Hurricanes: 9-1 (5-1 ACC)

This Week: Idle

Week 13: Home vs. Wake Forest

8. Alabama Crimson Tide: 8-2 (4-2 SEC)

This Week: Won 52–7 vs. Mercer

Week 13: Away at Oklahoma

9. Ole Miss Rebels: 8-2 (4-2 SEC)

This Week: Idle

Week 13: Away at Florida

10. Georgia Bulldogs: 8-2 (6-2 SEC)

This Week: Won 31–17 vs. Tennessee

Week 13: Home vs. Massachusetts

11. Boise State Broncos: 9-1 (6-0 Mountain West)

This Week: Won 42–21 at San Jose State

Week 13: Away at Wyoming

12. Tennessee Volunteers: 8-2 (5-2 SEC)

This Week: Lost 31–17 at Georgia

Week 13: Home vs. UTEP

13. BYU Cougars: 9-1 (6-1 Big 12)

This Week: Lost 17–13 vs. Kansas

Week 13: Away at Arizona State

14. SMU Mustangs: 9-1 (6-0 ACC)

This Week: Won 38–28 vs. Boston College

Week 13: Away at Virginia

15. South Carolina Gamecocks: 7-3 (5-3 SEC)

This Week: Won 34–30 vs. Missouri

Week 13: Home vs. Wofford

16. Texas A&M Aggies: 8-2 (5-1 SEC)

This Week: Won 38–3 vs. New Mexico State

Week 13: Away at Auburn

17. Colorado Buffaloes: 8-2 (6-1 Big 12)

This Week: Won 49–24 vs. Utah

Week 13: Away at Kansas

18. Clemson Tigers: 8-2 (7-1 ACC)

This Week: Won 24–20 at Pittsburgh

Week 13: Home vs. Citadel

19. Army Black Knights: 9-0 (7-0 American)

This Week: Idle

Week 13: Neutral Site vs. Notre Dame

20. Tulane Green Wave: 9-2 (7-0 American)

This Week: Won 35–0 at Navy

Week 13: Idle

21. Arizona State Sun Devils: 8-2 (5-2 Big 12)

This Week: Won 24–14 at Kansas State

Week 13: Home vs. BYU

22. Iowa State Cyclones: 8-2 (5-2 Big 12)

This Week: Won 34–17 vs. Cincinnati

Week 13: Away at Utah

23. Kansas State Wildcats: 7-3 (4-3 Big 12)

This Week: Lost 24–14 vs. Arizona State

Week 13: Home vs. Cincinnati

24. UNLV Rebels: 8-2 (4-1 Mountain West)

This Week: Won 41–20 vs. San Diego State

Week 13: Away at San Jose State

25. Missouri Tigers: 7-3 (3-3 SEC)

This Week: Lost 34–30 at South Carolina

Week 13: Away at Mississippi State

Dropped From Rankings: No. 18 Washington State, No. 19 Louisville, No. 22 LSU