12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on AP Poll

2025 National Championship Game: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 2 Georgia

Result: No. 1 Oregon Wins National Title

2-seed: No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Champion)

The Georgia Bulldogs have had a roller coaster ride of a season. They lost a pair of games and looked on the brink of crashing out of the College Football Playoff picture as they trailed rival Georgia Tech. They survived that game in a memorable and messy fashion and then knocked off Texas again, this time in Atlanta, to win the SEC Championship. Starting quarterback Carson Beck is injured and unlikely to play in the Sugar Bowl, throwing fresh questions at Kirby Smart as his team prepares for a title run. Georgia is ranked second in both polls and is the No. 2 seed.

3-seed: No. 8 Boise State Broncos (Mountain West Champion)

The Boise State Broncos handled UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game and earned the three-seed in the College Football Playoff. The Broncos are ranked eighth in the AP and Coaches polls and earned a trip to the Fiesta Bowl for a showdown with the winner of the six versus 11 game.

4-seed: No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12 Champion)

Arizona State’s magical season continued as Kenny Dillingham’s crew shellacked Iowa State and won the Big 12 Championship. SMU lost to Clemson, which moved the Sun Devils into the fourth seed and a bye to the Peach Bowl for Arizona State. Arizona State is playing incredibly well and should not be overlooked.

12-seed (No. 13) Clemson (ACC Champion) at 5-seed (No. 3) Notre Dame

The 12-seed belongs to Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers. They are ranked 13th in both polls and finished at 10-3. Clemson has many flaws but got off to a hot start, got SMU down 31-14, and pulled out the win with a last-second 54-yard field goal to prevail 34-31. In this projection, Clemson would draw a first-round matchup with the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish cannot get a first-round bye in the current format, but they would be thrilled to have a chance to host Clemson and then play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.

11-seed (No. 11) Alabama at 6-seed (No. 4) Texas

The AP Poll bumped Alabama to No. 11, one spot ahead of SMU. That means the Crimson Tide would make this playoff projection and play at six-seed Texas. The Longhorns lost to Georgia, and significant questions are being asked about their offense, specifically, the health and play of Quinn Ewers. Will we see more of Arch Manning in the College Football Playoff?

7-seed (No. 5) Penn State at 10-seed (No. 9) Indiana

The Indiana Hoosiers are ranked ninth in the AP and Coaches Polls and earned the ten-seed in this projection. IU is 11-1, with the lone loss coming to Ohio State. They draw a trip to State College to play the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State is ranked fifth in the country after losing to the Oregon Ducks in the Big Ten Championship Game. This is a Big Ten battle but the two did not play in the regular season.

9-seed (No. 7) Tennessee at 8-seed (No. 6) Ohio State

The Tennessee Volunteers will be on the road in Columbus to play the Ohio State Buckeyes. Tennessee is 10-2 and ranked seventh in the country. Ohio State has an argument to be ahead of Penn State, but the disastrous loss to Michigan looms large on their resume and ranks them sixth nationally. The winner has an enormous task as they would have to play Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

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Rose Bowl: 1-seed (No. 1) Oregon vs. 8-seed (No. 6) Ohio State

Result: No. 1 Oregon beats No. 6 Ohio State

Peach Bowl: 4-seed (No. 10) Arizona State vs. 5-seed (No. 3) Notre Dame

Result: No. 3 Notre Dame beats No. 10 Arizona State

Sugar Bowl: 2-seed (No. 2) Georgia vs. 7-seed (No. 5) Penn State

Result: No. 2 Georgia knocks off No. 5 Penn State

Fiesta Bowl: 3-seed (No. 8) Boise State vs. 6-seed (No. 4) Texas

Result: No. 4 Texas tops No. 8 Boise State

Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 3 Notre Dame

Result: No. 1 Oregon beats No. 3 Notre Dame

Orange Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 4 Texas

Result: No. 2 Georgia beats No. 4 Texas

2025 National Championship Game: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 2 Georgia

Result: No. 1 Oregon Wins National Title