Bold claim: JMU earns entry while the ACC’s potential upheaval becomes clear in the CFP rankings.
Democracy Dies in Darkness
College Football
Even with Lane Kiffin absent, Mississippi remains at No. 6 after Texas A&M fell to Texas. Alabama edged ahead of Notre Dame. North Texas and James Madison make their debut in the rankings.
Updated
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 p.m. EST—20 minutes ago
While Mississippi, left out previously, climbs to No. 6, Alabama nudges ahead of Notre Dame to No. 9, and the Notre Dame–Miami debate over playoff prospects stays alive and fiercely discussed, the bottom portion of the top 25 delivered perhaps the most vivid drama on Tuesday night as the College Football Playoff selection committee released its penultimate rankings.
The rankings signaling Mississippi’s surprise rise, Alabama’s leap, and the lingering Notre Dame–Miami questions underscore the volatility and controversy surrounding the CFP picture as the final decisions loom. The committee’s placement hints at how close several teams remain in the chasing pack and how a single weekend can reshuffle perceptions heading into selection day.
