20 storylines to watch for in the College Football Playoff

Arguably, the biggest story of the 2025 College Football Playoff field is that Notre Dame is not in it. After weeks in the top 10 of the committee's rankings, Notre Dame, which won 10 straight after losing to Miami (FL) and Texas A&M (both in the CFP) by a combined four points to open the season, was left on the outside looking in when the 12-team field was announced. The Hurricanes got the nod over Notre Dame, which certainly had a gripe. However, the storied program didn't do itself any favors when school officials bashed the committee's decision and the ACC and also decided not to take part in a bowl game. Expect the Irish's plight to be talked about and debated frequently when the Playoff begins Dec. 19.

Indiana is No. 1 -- in football. With a historic 13-0 record, the Hoosiers are the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Building on last season's remarkable 11-2 season under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have revamped a program that won 10 games from 2021-'23. They won their first Big Ten title since 1967 and boast the nation's best player in quarterback Fernando Mendoza (71.5 completion percentage, 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdown passes, six interceptions, six rushing touchdowns). For a school known for its basketball tradition, a football national championship might be the most significant athletic accomplishment in the university's history.

Now, Indiana is filled with elite talent on both sides of the ball, but it must overcome the loss of defensive lineman Stephen Daley. The Kent State transfer has 5 1/2 sacks and 19 tackles for loss while blossoming into one of the country's top defenders. However, Daley injured his leg during the on-field celebration following the Hoosiers' upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game and is likely to miss the CFP. Hopefully for Indiana and its fans, that's not an omen of future football misfortune. 

Ohio State's 16-game winning streak ended with that 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten title game, but it's still the defending national champion and No. 2 seed in the CFP. The Buckeyes have arguably the most talented, NFL-ready roster in the nation and now have a chip on their collective shoulder. Much like last season's loss to Michigan seemed to fuel its run to the national championship, Ohio State has something to use as motivation as it tries to become the second repeat champ in five seasons.

Julian Sayin enjoyed a stellar first season as a starter at Ohio State. He's the national leader with a 182.1 passer rating and 78.4 completion percentage, and also ranks among the country's best in passing touchdowns (31) and passing yards (3,323). That said, Sayin seemed rattled at times by Indiana's pressure, being sacked five times during the Buckeyes' Big Ten title-game loss. The stage is even bigger now, and it will be interesting to see how Sayin handles it all.  

No team has won more College Football Playoff titles than Alabama's three. The Crimson Tide's nine CFP appearances are also the most in the 12-year history of the tournament. After questionably being snubbed in 2024, Alabama (10-3) is back in the 2025 field. And, as the first-ever three-loss team to earn a spot in the Playoff. One of those defeats came against No. 8 Oklahoma, 23-21 at home on Nov. 15, its first-round CFP opponent.

Three teams in the College Football Playoff have already endured a head coaching change. Most notably, Ole Miss, as Lane Kiffin made his expected departure from Oxford, making LSU his next stop. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding will guide the team through the CFP. Meanwhile, the Rebels' first-round opponent, Tulane, will also say goodbye to coach Jon Sumrall, who is headed to Florida after the CFP. Like Sumrall, aforementioned James Madison will be coached by Bob Chesney during its time in the Playoff before he takes over the UCLA program.

When it comes to Ole Miss, it will be interesting to see how the team handles the aftermath of Lane Kiffin's departure. His coaching future was a distraction for roughly the final month of the regular season, yet the 11-1 Rebels enter the CFP on a five-game winning streak and have a first-round home game. The smart money is on Ole Miss players won't be rattled by Kiffin's absence, and will remain focused on beating Tulane to set up a rematch with Georgia, which handed the squad its only loss this season.

In just the second year of the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff, two non-Power Four conference teams are in the field. Tulane (11-2), out of the American Athletic Conference, and Sun Belt-winner James Madison (12-1) were ranked among the top five conference champions, thus earning automatic spots in the field. Though that guideline does not seem appealing to some coaches and critics of the CFP, it helps non-power leagues get their shot. In this case, it also left the ACC without a participant after five-loss Duke upset Virginia in the conference championship game and didn't make the final committee rankings. 

Speaking of James Madison. Sure, the No. 12 Dukes are long shots to win at No. 5 Oregon, but it's been quite a run for the program since moving to the FBS ranks in 2022. Two-time FCS champions, JMU is 40-10 as an FBS squad, with two of those seasons coached by current Indiana boss Curt Cignetti. When it comes to feel-good, truly underdog stories, the Dukes have a chance to play the part in 2025, and potentially capture the football hearts of a nation.

Alabama-Oklahoma is not the only rematch that graces the first round of the CFP. No. 6 Mississippi will host No. 11 Tulane. And, if Round 2 plays out anywhere near the same as the first, it won't be every entertaining, unless you're a Rebels fan. Back in the fourth week of the season, Ole Miss rolled to a 45-10 win over the Green Wave, one of two non-power conference teams in the field. The Rebels' Trinidad Chambliss threw for 307 yards and ran for 112 the first time around.

Since losing to Alabama at home in Week 4, Georgia has won nine in a row and doesn't seem phased about anything at this point. As the No. 3-ranked team in the CFP, the Bulldogs get a bye into the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal. Gunner Stockton is playing with plenty of confidence, and the defense has allowed 29 total points in the last four games. Plus, this is Georgia's fifth trip to the CFP, and even though the names might be different, tradition can go a long way.

Carson Beck was part of two national championship teams at Georgia, but as a backup quarterback to Stetson Bennett. Then, as a starter, he missed the CFP last year because of an injury. He returns this season trying to help Miami (FL) make a postseason run. Beck has been inconsistent this season, even though he's completed 74.5 percent of his passes for more than 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns. Though he's thrown 10 interceptions (including four in that home loss to Louisville), he has 11 touchdowns and been picked off just once during the Hurricanes' four-game winning streak. For those keeping score at home, Beck and the Hurricanes could face Georgia in the semifinals. 

Miami has won five national championships, but none since 2001. And, it's still rather hard to believe that this is the first time that the Hurricanes (10-2) will be playing in the College Football Playoff. It came with plenty of controversy, too, considering Miami was behind Notre Dame on the committee rankings until the very end, where its head-to-head victory proved the deciding factor. Though rich in college football tradition and infamy, Miami was undeniably inconsistent over the past two decades. And, making a deep run in this year's Playoff remains a serious task with an opening date at Texas A&M to get past.

It's been a minute since Oklahoma was part of the College Football Playoff. One must go back to 2019 for the last time the Sooners (10-2) were part of the fun. But a strong start and finish to the regular season, plus a 5-1 record against Top 25 teams, and Oklahoma finds itself hosting Alabama to open the Playoff. The Sooners' last national. championship came in 2000, so to say it's been atime coming makes for a serious understatement.

Oregon joins Indiana, Ohio State, and Georgia as those teams part of the 12-team field for a second straight season. In 2024, the Ducks were 13-0, fresh off a Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the CFP. They had plenty of time to prepare and opened with a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. However, Oregon's Playoff stay was short-lived, as the Buckeyes jumped out to a 34-0 lead and rolled to a 41-21 triumph. It was a rather embarrassing end to an otherwise special season. Fast forward to 2025, and the Ducks are the No. 5 seed and don't have too much pressure while boasting a scoring offense and defense that each rank in the top 10 in the country.

Should Oregon reach the CFP semifinals, that would mean it took down Texas Tech, which might be the sleeper team in this event. Yes, the Red Raiders are 12-1, ranked third in the field and boast the nation's best defender in linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (117 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions). However, the pre-Playoff talk seems focused on upstart Indiana, blue-blood favorites Ohio State and Georgia and Alabama's return. Of course, those in the know realize Texas Tech has the collective talent to turn heads further. 

Texas A&M joins Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Tulane, James Madison, and Miami as CFP first-timers. However, it seems analysts and oddsmakers have soured on the No. 7 Aggies' chances of being a serious national title contender. Texas A&M was 11-0 and poised for a top-4 seed and first-round bye before losing 27-17 at Texas to close the regular season. That was all it took for the Aggies to become an afterthought, seemingly. Which might be all they need to regroup and prove the college football world wrong. 

It can be argued that there is no bigger X-factor for any team in the College Football Playoff than Alabama receiver Ryan Williams. The sophomore entered the season as a Heisman Trophy contender after totaling 48 catches for 865 yards, 12 touchdowns, and several memorable moments as a freshman, but he's endured a rather pedestrian season in 2025. Due to injury, drops, and an increased defensive focus, Williams has 42 receptions for 631 yards and four TDs in 11 games. If the Crimson Tide are to win at Oklahoma, which held Williams to three catches for 45 yards this season, and make a deep Playoff run, Williams must have a major impact.

Indiana might be the No. 1-ranked team in the College Football Playoff, but oddsmakers like Ohio State to repeat as national champion. As of mid-December, according to DraftKings, Ohio State sat favored at +215, followed by the Hoosiers (+280), Georgia (+550), Texas Tech (+800) and Oregon (+900). Each of the remaining teams in the field was at +2000 or higher. Looking for a big, but long-shot payout, put a few bones on Tulane at +80000.