Week 10 Shakes Up 12-Team CFB Playoff Picture

**Week 10 Chaos Ignites 2025 College Football Playoff Race; Expanded Format Delivers High Stakes Drama**

**November 4, 2025** – With just weeks remaining in the 2025 college football regular season, the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff picture has taken on a frantic new dimension following a tumultuous Week 10. Upsets across major conferences and within the Group of Five ranks have dramatically reshaped the chase for coveted first-round byes and critical playoff berths, proving the new format’s promise of making every game matter.

At the top, the nation’s elite continue to hold serve, albeit with increasing pressure. No. 1 Georgia remains steadfast at the pinnacle of the rankings, with No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Oregon, and No. 4 Ohio State rounding out the top four. These powerhouses are currently in line for the invaluable first-round byes, a significant advantage in the quest for a national championship.

**ACC Shake-Up Paves Way for Florida State**

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) was a hotbed of unexpected outcomes, creating a clearer path for one of its traditional giants. No. 17 Louisville suffered a critical blow to its playoff aspirations, falling 30-27 on the road to Virginia Tech. Adding to the ACC’s turmoil, No. 21 Clemson, a perennial contender, was upset 27-24 by NC State. These results have largely cleared the way for No. 6 Florida State, who now appear to be the dominant force in the conference. Should the Seminoles claim the ACC Championship, they are projected to earn one of the top four national seeds and a first-round bye, a crucial development for their playoff hopes.

**Group of Five Scramble Intensifies**

The battle for the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion, guaranteeing an automatic playoff bid, also saw significant upheaval. SMU, a strong contender for that coveted spot, lost a thrilling 35-31 contest to UTSA. Not long after, Liberty, another G5 hopeful, was stunned 31-28 by Jacksonville State. These surprising defeats have catapulted Boise State into pole position, suddenly making the Broncos the leading candidate to secure the G5’s automatic entry into the expanded playoff field.

**Projected Playoff Picture: Byes and On-Campus Thrillers**

Under the 12-team format, the top four conference champions earn a first-round bye. Based on current rankings and projections for conference titles, those byes would go to:
* No. 1 Georgia (SEC Champion)
* No. 2 Texas (Big 12 Champion)
* No. 3 Oregon (Pac-12 Champion)
* No. 6 Florida State (Projected ACC Champion)

This scenario sets the stage for an electrifying first round, with games played on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams. If the playoffs were to begin today, the matchups would be:

* **No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Penn State:** A classic David vs. Goliath narrative, with the highly-ranked Nittany Lions hosting the G5 hopeful Broncos.
* **No. 11 LSU at No. 6 Alabama:** A bitter SEC rivalry reprised in a high-stakes playoff environment, with the Crimson Tide hosting their familiar foes.
* **No. 10 Missouri at No. 7 Ohio State:** The surging Tigers traveling to face the Buckeyes in a clash of playoff contenders.
* **No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma:** Two storied programs battling it out for the right to advance, with the Sooners defending their home turf.

Just outside this initial playoff field are teams like No. 13 Ole Miss and No. 14 Michigan, both still harboring aspirations of making a late-season push. The margins are thin, and every remaining game holds immense weight.

With conference championship week looming in the coming weeks and Selection Sunday quickly approaching, the 2025 college football season is hurtling towards a dramatic conclusion. The expanded playoff format has undoubtedly delivered on its promise of enhanced excitement and heightened stakes, ensuring that fans will be glued to every snap as the race for the national title intensifies.