CFP bracket after Week 15: Highlights from Playoff top 25 reveal

The College Football Playoff 12-team field is set.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, the CFP selection committee revealed the teams in the 2025-26 CFP after the conclusion of the conference championship games on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6.

To no surprise, Indiana earned the No. 1 overall seed following a win over the defending national champion Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. The Buckeyes slipped one spot to No. 2, while Georgia and Texas Tech finished third and fourth respectively, also earning first-round bye.

A new change from last year's CFP format this year allowed the Buckeyes to earn a first-round bye, despite not winning their conference. The CFP instead went straight to seeding while allowing entry to the five highest-ranked conference champions.

The Red Raiders earned a first-round bye with a 34-7 win over BYU in the Big 12 Championship, while the Bullogs did the same with a dominant 28-7 win over Alabama in the SEC Championship game.

An 8-5 Duke opened the door for two Group of Five teams in the CFP field with its ACC championship win over Virginia. Tulane claimed the No. 11 seed, while James Madison was No. 12 after claiming the American and Sun Belt conferences, respectively.

The CFP reveal was not without controversy. Despite its third loss of the season, the Crimson Tide remained at No. 9 and are in the CFP field. Miami earned the No. 10 ranked, which meant Notre Dame was pushed out as the first team out.

USA TODAY brought you updates, scores and highlights from the 12-team CFP bracket reveal. Catch up below:

College Football Playoff bracket reveal live updates

Notre Dame drops out of bowl game following CFP snub

Notre Dame issued a statement on Sunday, Dec. 7 it intends to skip a bowl game this season after following its snub from the 12-team CFP field.

"As a team, we've decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season," a statement posted on the team's social media account read. "We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we're hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026."

CFP snubs

Notre Dame and BYU lead USA TODAY's Jordan Mendoza's top teams snubbed from the 12-team College Football Playoff field. What other teams had a case for the CFP bid and were left out? Check out Mendoza's story here.

CFP first round odds

Here are the spreads for each of the first-round CFP games, according to BetMGM.

• No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama (Alabama -1.5)
• No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Texas A&M -3.5)
• No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane (Ole Miss -16.5)
• No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison (Oregon -20.5)

What CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said of dropping Notre Dame for Miami

CFP chair Hunter Yurachek joined the ESPN broadcast to talk about the decision to include Miami over Notre Dame in the 12-team CFP field.

Here's what he had to say.

What to know of CFP first round matchups

The first round of the 2025-26 CFP field is set. Here's a look at what you need to know about each of the first-round games, played at campus sites:

• No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama
• No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison
• No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami
• No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane

Miami, Notre Dame lead College Football Playoff field winners and losers

Here's USA TODAY's Paul Myerberg's winners and losers from the 2025 College Football Playoff 12-team field, which was revealed on Sunday, Dec. 7.

CFB bracket 2025-26

1. Indiana (13-0)*
2. Ohio State (12-1)
3. Georgia (12-1)*
4. Texas Tech (12-1)*
5. Oregon (11-1)
6. Ole Miss (11-1)
7. Texas A&M (11-1)
8. Oklahoma (10-2)
9. Alabama (10-3)
10. Miami (10-2)
11. Tulane (11-2)
12. James Madison (12-1)

* indicates one of the top five highest-ranked conference champions

CFP first teams out

• First team out: Notre Dame (10-2)
• Second team out: BYU (11-2)

CFP 2026 first round and quarterfinal schedule

First-round games:

• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon | 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 20
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss | 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 20
• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M | Noon ET, Saturday, Dec. 20
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. ET, Friday, Dec. 19

Quarterfinals:

• No. 1 Indiana vs. winner of No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama | 4 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 1
• No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami | 7:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 31
• No. 3 Georgia vs. winner of No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane | 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 1
• No. 4 Texas Tech vs. winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison | Noon ET, Thursday, Jan. 1

CFP top 25 after Week 15

1. Indiana (13-0)
2. Ohio State (12-1)
3. Georgia (12-1)
4. Texas Tech (12-1)
5. Oregon (11-1)
6. Ole Miss (11-1)
7. Texas A&M (11-1)
8. Oklahoma (10-2)
9. Alabama (10-3)
10. Miami (10-2)
11. Notre Dame (10-2)
12. BYU (11-2)
13. Texas (9-3)
14. Vanderbilt (10-2)
15. Utah (10-2)
16. USC (9-3)
17. Arizona (9-3)
18. Michigan (9-3)
19. Virginia (10-3)
20. Tulane (11-2)
21. Houston (9-3)
22. Georgia Tech (9-3)
23. Iowa (8-4)
24. James Madison (12-1)
25. North Texas (11-2)

AP Top 25 Poll post-conference championship released

An hour ahead of the CFP bracket reveal show, the AP Top 25 rankings have been released. To no shock, Indiana is No. 1. However, the voters placing Miami ahead of Alabama could cause some stir ― as the Crimson Tide are favored to make the CFP field over the Hurricanes.

CFP format changes for 2025 season

The 2025 CFP is the second year with a 12-team field. However, there are some slight variations on the format for the bracket this year, as opposed to last season. One of those changes is that Nos. 1-4 seeds will no longer be reserved for to conference champions.

Here's a look at other changes to the CFP format in 2025.

College football bowl projections

Outside of the CFP 12-team field, bowl games will also be announced today. Here's a look at Erick Smith's bowl game projections through the conference championships.

Top 25 rankings prediction for US LBM Coaches Poll

USA TODAY's Paul Myerberg predicts what the top 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll could look like following the conference championship games. This could serve as a preview of what the top 25, particularly what the CFP bracket could look like.

USA TODAY Sports' experts predict CFP field

USA TODAY Sports' experts Craig Meyer, Ehsan Kassim, Austin Curtright, Jordan Mendoza and John Leuzzi predict what the 12-team CFP field will look like here.

CFP bracket predictions for 12-team field

With the conference championship games in the books, here's a look at USA TODAY's live projection for the 12-team CFP field. The projections were updated as each conference championship game went final, ending with Duke's overtime win over Virginia, putting the ACC's chances at a berth in chaos.

CFP rankings release time

• Date: Sunday, Dec. 7
• Time: Noon ET

The College Football Playoff 12-team bracket will be released at noon ET on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Where to watch College Football Playoff rankings release

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

All the College Football Playoff rankings shows have aired live on ESPN, including the 12-team bracket reveal on Sunday, Dec. 7.

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.