CFP Bracket Revealed: Texas Tech Earns #4 Seed Bye, A&M to Host Miami

The 2025 College Football Playoff field has been finalized, and for the first time in history, the road to the National Championship runs squarely through Lubbock and College Station.

The Top Four (First-Round Byes)

The Selection Committee confirmed the four highest-ranked conference champions who will receive a bye to the Quarterfinals:

1. Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Champion) - Rose Bowl
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Runner-up replaced SEC Champ due to rank) - Sugar Bowl
3. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Champion) - Peach Bowl
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 Champion) - Orange Bowl

Texas Tech (12-1) made history on Sunday, securing the No. 4 overall seed after their decisive Big 12 Championship victory. The Red Raiders will bypass the first round and head directly to the Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year's Day (Jan 1, 2026), where they will face the winner of the #5 Oregon vs. #12 James Madison matchup.

First-Round Matchups (Dec 19-20)

The first round games will be played on the home campuses of the higher seeds (5-8):

• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss
• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

Aggies Host Hurricanes at Kyle Field

The Texas A&M Aggies (11-1), despite falling in the SEC Championship Game, secured the No. 7 seed and a coveted home playoff game. They will host the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Dec 20, at Kyle Field.

Head Coach Mike Elko called the selection "a testament to the resilience of this group," urging the 12th Man to create "the most hostile environment in the history of the sport" for the visiting Hurricanes. A win would send the Aggies to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

Notable Omissions

The biggest storyline for the state's other powerhouses was exclusion.

• Texas Longhorns (9-3): Ranked No. 13, the Longhorns were the first team out of the at-large discussion, blocked by Group of 5 auto-bids and the committee's preference for 10-win resumes. They will head to the Citrus Bowl.
• SMU Mustangs (11-2): Despite an 11-win campaign and an ACC Championship Game appearance, the Mustangs landed at No. 14, settling for a Holiday Bowl berth.

The expansion to 12 teams has delivered on its chaotic promise, giving two Texas programs a genuine shot at the title while leaving two others just on the outside looking in.