CFP 2025: Projecting 12-team field on Coaches Poll preseason top 25

The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll was unveiled on Monday, Aug. 4, setting its annual benchmark for where teams stand entering the 2025 season.

There assuredly will be plenty of movement in the top 25 poll between now and the College Football Playoff, including in Week 1, which will feature a rare ‘Game of the Century.’ And, of course, teams will overachieve or underachieve throughout the season — this is college football, after all.

Texas made program history with their first-ever preseason No. 1 selection in the Coaches Poll, followed by eight other SEC programs. The rankings weren’t as keen on the Longhorns’ archrival, Oklahoma, which wasn’t included in the rankings for the first time since 1999 (Oklahoma had the most votes of any unranked team).

Reigning national champion Ohio State came in at No. 2 in the polls, although it’ll have a chance to regain the top spot as the Buckeyes play Texas in Week 1.

The 12-team CFP has a new seeding process for 2025, getting rid of the top-four ranked conference champions earning first-round byes. Here’s a look at how the CFP would shape up based on the preseason Coaches Poll top 25:

College Football Playoff format 2025

The College Football Playoff committee adopted a new seeding process that straight seeds the 12 teams in the CFP in the offseason, getting rid of the four highest-ranked conference champions occupying the top-four seeds, subsequently earning first-round byes.

Instead, the teams will be seeded based on their final rankings in the CFP. There are still five automatic bids given to the five highest-ranked conference champions. Here’s how the CFP would look, based on the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll:

Automatic qualifiers bolded

1. Texas (SEC)
2. Ohio State (Big Ten)
3. Penn State
4. Georgia
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson (ACC)
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami
11. Arizona State (Big 12)
12. Boise State (Mountain West) *

* Ranked No. 25 in preseason Coaches Poll

First round

• No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Boise State
• No. 6 Clemson vs. No. 11 Arizona State
• No. 7 Oregon vs. No. 10 Miami
• No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 9 LSU

Quarterfinals

• No. 8 Alabama/No. 9 LSU vs. No. 1 Texas
• No. 7 Oregon/ No. 10 Miami vs. No. 2 Ohio State
• No. 6 Clemson/No. 11 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Penn State
• No. 5 Notre Dame/No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 4 Georgia

2025 College Football Playoff locations

• CFP first-round games: Home field of seeds 5-8
• CFP quarterfinals: Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas) | Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida) | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California) | Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
• CFP semifinals: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona) | Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
• CFP championship game: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)

As in 2024, the first round of the College Football Playoff will take place at the home fields of seeds 5-8. From there, the CFP will advance to the quarterfinals which in 2025 comprises the Cotton, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls. The semifinals will be held at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl.

The College Football Playoff championship game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, home of the Orange Bowl.