The top of the College Football Playoff rankings remained unchanged Tuesday night, with Ohio State maintaining its position as the unanimous No. 1 team, followed closely by undefeated Indiana at No. 2. The committee’s decision to keep the Hoosiers ahead of No. 3 Texas A&M, despite Indiana’s narrow escape against an unranked opponent, highlighted the importance of a team’s complete body of work over recent game scores.
The Buckeyes (9-0) solidified their spot atop the rankings for the second straight week, drawing a “really clear consensus in the room,” according to CFP committee chair Mack Rhoades. Ohio State has demonstrated consistent dominance, including a signature season-opening win over then-No. 1 Texas and a defense that continues to suffocate opponents. With the team firing on all cylinders, the path to the national title still runs through Columbus.
The most debated ranking involving the top three centered on No. 2 Indiana (10-0) and No. 3 Texas A&M (9-0). Indiana survived a major scare against Penn State, needing late-game heroics to secure a one-score victory. Meanwhile, Texas A&M rolled to a dominant win over Missouri. For many observers, A&M’s convincing victory over a Power Five opponent seemed a stronger case for the No. 2 spot.
However, the 12-person selection committee ultimately placed greater value on Indiana’s overall resume. Rhoades confirmed the committee engaged in a lengthy discussion about the two programs, examining the respective wins. He noted that while Texas A&M performed well against Missouri, the Tigers were “not the team they’ve been,” having been forced to start their third quarterback due to injuries. The committee gave heavier weight to Indiana’s two major road wins at Oregon and at Iowa, viewing those victories as superior quality of work compared to the Aggies’ resume, which is highlighted by a road win at Notre Dame.
Both Ohio State and Indiana are currently on a collision course, set to meet in the Big Ten championship game, likely determining two of the top four seeds. The Aggies remain in prime position, keeping pace with the two Big Ten heavyweights, setting up a thrilling final month of the regular season.
