A College Football Playoff logo helmet at a press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom.

The first unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings is complete.

To no one’s surprise, defending national champion Ohio State grabbed the No. 1 spot in the first of five total rankings to be unveiled through the rest of the season.

Stream CFP rankings release shows live with Fubo (free trial)

The Buckeyes, off to an 8-0 start, are followed by Indiana at No. 2, while No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama grabbed the remaining top-four seeds. While there are some changes to the CFP format this year, one notable similarity is that the top four seeds of the CFP will earn a first-round bye.

No. 7 BYU is the favorite right now to clinch the Big 12’s automatic bid, entering Week 11 with an 8-0 mark. Virginia (ACC) and Memphis (American) would also earn automatic bids, despite being No. 14 and unranked, respectively, in the CFP rankings.

The Cavaliers are the current leaders of the ACC, while the Tigers are the highest-ranked Group of Five team (from outside the top 25) and the current favorites to win the American Conference.

While the rankings are going to generate discussions, sometimes heated, for the rest of the season, it is important to remember they are not final until the CFP selection committee selects its final top 25 on Sunday, Dec. 7.

USA TODAY brought you updates as the bracket was revealed on Oct. 4. Catch up with the latest here:

College Football Playoff rankings reveal live updates

CFP committee selection chair discusses Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M

Why did Big Ten teams Ohio State and Indiana edge out Texas A&M for the top two spots? According to Mack Rhoades — CFP selection committee chair — it came down to defense.

"We had robust discussions about Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M,” Rhoades said on the show. “We felt like Ohio State and Indiana were close, when you look at the statistical data. We felt Ohio State was a little bit better on the offensive line and defensively. When we included A&M as part of the discussion, we felt like the separator there was the defense."

CFP first-round matchups after Week 10

  • No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia
  • No. 11 Virginia at No. 6 Ole Miss
  • No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 BYU
  • No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 Texas Tech
  • Byes: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama

CFP bracket after Week 10

  1. Ohio State
  2. Indiana
  3. Texas A&M
  4. Alabama
  5. Georgia
  6. Ole Miss
  7. BYU
  8. Texas Tech
  9. Oregon
  10. Notre Dame
  11. Virginia
  12. Memphis

CFP rankings after Week 10

This section will be updated.

  1. Ohio State (8-0)
  2. Indiana (8-0)
  3. Texas A&M (8-0)
  4. Alabama (7-1)
  5. Georgia (7-1)
  6. Ole Miss (8-1)
  7. BYU (8-0)
  8. Texas Tech (8-1)
  9. Oregon (7-1)
  10. Notre Dame (6-2)
  11. Texas (7-2)
  12. Oklahoma (7-2)
  13. Utah (7-2)
  14. Virginia (8-1)
  15. Louisville (7-1)
  16. Vanderbilt (7-2)
  17. Georgia Tech (8-1)
  18. Miami (6-2)
  19. Southern California (6-2)
  20. Iowa (6-2)
  21. Michigan (7-2)
  22. Missouri (6-2)
  23. Washington (6-2)
  24. Pittsburgh (7-2)
  25. Tennessee (6-3)

CFP selection show underway

The first CFP selection show of the 2025 college football season is underway. The rankings should be revealed shortly, along with analysis and comments from the CFP committee chair.

CFP rankings show tonight: How YouTube TV users can watch without ESPN2

Do you have YouTube TV and are looking for a way to watch tonight’s CFP rankings show?

Here’s how to watch the top 25 reveal without YouTube TV.

2024 CFP initial rankings, revisited

Last season, the first CFP top 25 correctly placed 10 of 12 teams that made the playoff in the first year of the 12-team field. (The only teams that did not make the final cut that made the first ranking were Miami and BYU.)

Here’s a deep dive by USA TODAY’s Matthew Glenesk of how the initial rankings played out vs. the final seedings.

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule

Here's a look at the entire 2026 College Football Playoff schedule:

  • Selection show: Sunday, Dec. 7
  • First round: Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20
  • Quarterfinals: Wednesday, Dec. 31 and Thursday, Jan. 1
  • Semifinals: Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9
  • National championship: Monday, Jan. 19

CFP rankings release schedule

Here is a list of the full dates when the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings will be released, with dates and times:

All times Eastern.

  • Tuesday, Nov. 4 (8 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 11 (7 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 18 (8:30 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 25 (7 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, Dec. 2 (7 p.m.)
  • Sunday, Dec. 7 (noon)

College Football Playoff predictions

Here's a look at how a CFP rankings prediction of Paul Myerberg, of USA TODAY:

  • 1. Ohio State (9-0)
  • 2. Indiana (9-0)
  • 3. Texas A&M (8-0)
  • 4. Alabama (7-1)
  • 5. Georgia (7-1)
  • 6. Ole Miss (7-1)
  • 7. BYU (8-0)
  • 8. Oregon (7-1)
  • 9. Texas Tech (8-1)
  • 10. Notre Dame (6-2)
  • 11. Texas (7-2)
  • 12. Oklahoma (7-2)
  • 23. Memphis (8-1)

CFP rankings release time

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET

The College Football Playoff rankings will be released for the first time during the 2025 college football season at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. This will be the first of five rankings that will be released every Tuesday through Dec. 2.

The official 12-team CFP field will be unveiled at noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 7, following the conclusion of all conference championship games on Dec. 5 and 6.

Where to watch College Football Playoff rankings release

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Livestream: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

All the College Football Playoff rankings shows will air live on ESPN, including the first one on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Streaming options for the rankings release show include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CFP rankings after Week 10: Bracket, highlights from first top 25 reveal

Reporting by Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect