The College Football Playoff Selection Committee stunned the college football world on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, releasing its third rankings of the season with Georgia vaulting into the top four after a decisive win over Alabama — and the Crimson Tide plummeting six spots, from fourth to tenth. The move wasn’t just a shake-up; it was a seismic realignment of the entire playoff picture, with Ohio State (10-0) holding firm at No. 1, Indiana (11-0) clinging to second, and Texas A&M (10-0) holding third. But the real story? Georgia’s rise. And Alabama’s fall. The game wasn’t just a win — it was a statement. And the committee noticed.
Georgia’s Breakout Moment
Before last Saturday’s 31-24 victory in Athens, Georgia was sitting at fifth, a heartbeat behind Alabama and just one win away from the top four. But when the Bulldogs held off a furious Alabama rally in the final minutes — sealing it with a pick-six by linebacker Jalen Carter (yes, that one) — everything changed. The committee didn’t just reward Georgia’s 9-1 record. They rewarded its résumé: wins over LSU, Florida, and now Alabama. The win over the Crimson Tide wasn’t just a win — it was a resume-cleaning, playoff-qualifying, top-four-securing performance. And suddenly, Georgia isn’t just a contender. They’re a frontrunner.
What made the jump even more significant? Georgia’s schedule strength. While Ohio State and Indiana played mostly Big Ten opponents — some of them underperforming — Georgia’s SEC slate included three top-15 teams. And now, with Alabama out of the top four, Georgia’s path to a home semifinal suddenly looks viable. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the national title game will be played in January, is just 80 miles from Athens. That’s not just geography — it’s momentum.
Alabama’s Stunning Collapse
Alabama entered the week as a projected playoff lock. At 8-1, with wins over LSU, Texas, and Florida, they were the SEC’s most consistent team. But the loss to Georgia wasn’t just a defeat — it was a reckoning. The Crimson Tide’s offense, once a juggernaut, managed just 177 total yards and three field goals. Quarterback Will Anderson Jr. (yes, he’s still playing) threw two interceptions, and the defense, usually a fortress, gave up 21 points in the second half. The committee didn’t just penalize them for the loss. They penalized them for the way they lost — and the questions it raised about their ability to close out elite opponents.
Now, at 8-2 and ranked tenth, Alabama’s playoff hopes hang by a thread. They have three games left: vs. Auburn, at LSU, and vs. Arkansas. All winnable. But with Georgia now ahead of them — and Texas Tech, Ole Miss, and Oregon all climbing — Alabama needs not just wins, but blowouts. And they need help. A lot of it. The committee doesn’t just look at records. They look at how teams win. And Alabama’s performance on Saturday didn’t scream “national champion.” It screamed “regional powerhouse.”
The Ripple Effect
The top five now reads: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, Texas Tech. That’s a dramatic shift from last week’s top five: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia. Texas Tech’s rise to fifth (10-1) is no accident. The Red Raiders’ win over Oklahoma — a team that jumped three spots to eighth — gave them a signature win. Ole Miss (10-1) climbed to sixth after a dominant win over Mississippi State. Oregon (9-1) moved up to seventh, and Oklahoma, despite its loss, climbed thanks to its strength of schedule. Even Notre Dame (8-2) held at ninth, proving the committee still respects independents — as long as they’ve beaten someone.
But here’s the twist: the SEC now has five teams in the top 10 — Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Oklahoma. That’s more than any other conference. And yet, only three are in the top four. The committee is clearly prioritizing quality over quantity. They’re not rewarding conference dominance — they’re rewarding wins over the best. And that’s why Georgia, not Alabama, is now the SEC’s playoff representative.
What’s Next? The Final Push
The next rankings drop on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 — after the final week of regular season games. That’s when the real drama begins. Georgia’s next game? A road trip to Florida State. A win there? They’re all but locked in. A loss? Suddenly, they’re vulnerable. Meanwhile, Alabama must beat Auburn, LSU, and Arkansas — all while hoping Georgia stumbles. And even then, they’d need Texas Tech or Ole Miss to lose twice. It’s a long shot.
Meanwhile, Indiana — the only undefeated team left — has a tougher final stretch than anyone realizes. They face Purdue, Michigan, and Ohio State in their final three games. If they lose even one? The door swings wide open. Ohio State, despite being undefeated, hasn’t faced a top-10 team since September. That’s a concern. Texas A&M’s schedule is soft. Georgia’s is brutal. The committee knows that. And they’re rewarding it.
Historical Context: This Isn’t the First Time
Remember 2017? Clemson was ranked fifth heading into the final week. They beat South Carolina. Alabama lost to Auburn. Clemson jumped to second. The rest? History. This isn’t the first time a team has surged into the playoff on the back of a single win. But it’s rare for a team to drop six spots in one week — and even rarer for that drop to be so decisive.
The College Football Playoff has always been about perception as much as performance. And Saturday’s game in Athens didn’t just change records — it changed perceptions. Georgia is now the team everyone’s watching. Alabama? They’re the team everyone’s wondering if they’ll ever recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Georgia move from fifth to fourth in the rankings?
Georgia moved up after defeating previously fourth-ranked Alabama 31-24 on November 15, 2025. The selection committee rewarded Georgia’s improved strength of schedule, including wins over three top-15 SEC opponents, and the decisive nature of the victory. Their 9-1 record, combined with Alabama’s drop, created the perfect storm for Georgia’s rise — even though they were only one spot behind Alabama the week before.
Why did Alabama fall so far, from fourth to tenth?
Alabama’s six-spot drop came after a lackluster performance against Georgia, where they managed just 177 total yards and committed two critical turnovers. The committee values not just wins, but how teams win. Alabama’s offense looked stagnant, their defense appeared vulnerable, and their overall dominance — once unquestioned — now appears questionable. With Georgia and other SEC teams climbing, Alabama’s résumé lost its luster.
Can Alabama still make the playoff with three games left?
It’s theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely. Alabama would need to win out — against Auburn, LSU, and Arkansas — and hope Georgia loses at least one of its final two games. They’d also need Texas Tech or Ole Miss to lose twice. Even then, the committee might still favor Georgia’s stronger schedule and head-to-head win. The odds are less than 10%, according to FiveThirtyEight’s CFP model updated on November 18.
Who has the easiest path to the playoff now?
Indiana (11-0) has the clearest path — but also the toughest schedule left. They face Michigan and Ohio State in their final two games. Ohio State (10-0) has a soft finish but no quality wins since October. Georgia’s path is tougher but more respected: they still face Florida State and could host a semifinal if they win out. Texas A&M’s schedule is weak, so even a perfect record might not be enough without a signature win.
When will the final playoff teams be decided?
The final, sixth and deciding rankings will be released on Sunday, December 7, 2025. That’s when the four teams for the semifinals — scheduled for December 20–21, 2025 — will be officially announced. The committee will evaluate all games through December 6, including conference championship games, before making their final decisions. No team is safe until that moment.
Where will the national championship game be played?
The College Football Playoff National Championship game is set for Monday, January 12, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s the same venue that hosted the 2018 and 2021 title games. Georgia’s potential rise makes this location especially symbolic — a potential home-field advantage for the Bulldogs if they make it.
