The College Football Playoff selection committee released its penultimate rankings on Tuesday, and despite the stunning departure of head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU, Ole Miss did not slip in the standings. Instead, the Rebels moved up one spot to No. 6 following their 38-19 victory over Mississippi State in last week’s Egg Bowl rivalry game.
There had been concern within the program that the coaching change may influence the committee’s evaluation, potentially jeopardizing Ole Miss’ chances of hosting a first-round CFP game later this month. However, with the roster intact and preparations continuing under the current staff, the committee maintained confidence in the Rebels’ résumé.
Unbeaten Ohio State and Indiana held firm at No. 1 and No. 2. Georgia, Texas Tech and Oregon rounded out the top five, each moving up following Texas A&M’s 27-17 loss to Texas. The Aggies dropped four spots to No. 7, sitting directly behind Ole Miss. Oklahoma, Alabama and Notre Dame completed the top ten, with BYU at No. 11 and Miami at No. 12.
Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek noted that the debate between Alabama and Notre Dame has been one of the most intense discussions in recent years. Yurachek emphasized road performances, pointing to Alabama’s strong rivalry win and Notre Dame’s success at Stanford.
If the season ended today, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia and Texas Tech would receive first-round byes in the 12-team playoff format. Projected first-round matchups based on the rankings would include Tulane at Oregon, Virginia at Ole Miss, Notre Dame at Texas A&M, and Alabama at Oklahoma. Under this scenario, BYU and Miami would fall out of the playoff field, while Virginia would enter as ACC champion and Tulane as the highest-ranked non-Power 4 conference champion.
Lane Kiffin’s exit after six seasons at Ole Miss added drama to the week. He signed a seven-year deal with LSU, bringing several assistants with him. LSU later announced that new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. would return to coach Ole Miss through the playoff run, a move Kiffin supported publicly, saying he hoped it would help ensure the Rebels receive the ranking they deserve.
Ole Miss finished the regular season 11-1, the best in program history, with its only loss coming at Georgia on October 18. The Rebels have won five straight since.
Further down the rankings, Texas climbed to No. 13 following its win over Texas A&M. Vanderbilt and Utah followed, with USC at No. 16. Virginia, Arizona, Michigan and Tulane rounded out the top 20. Houston, Georgia Tech, Iowa, North Texas and James Madison completed spots 21 through 25. Four new teams entered the rankings, while Tennessee, Arizona State, SMU and Pittsburgh dropped out after recent losses.
With multiple Group of 5 programs positioned inside the top 25, there remains a chance that two non-Power conference champions could land playoff bids if results fall in their favor this championship weekend. North Texas meets Tulane in the American title game, while Troy faces James Madison for the Sun Belt crown. Duke could also shake the picture with an upset over Virginia in the ACC Championship.
Miami, though ranked higher than some conference champions, did not qualify for the ACC title game. Yurachek noted that idle teams can move up or down depending on championship outcomes, setting up a decisive weekend ahead.
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be released Sunday, officially determining the first 12-team postseason field in history.
