CFP Committee Top 25 vs Ovi's Top 25

Alabama at No. 3: Does strength of schedule outweigh losses?

Alabama defeated LSU 31–13, a significant road victory. The committee also has to consider the Crimson Tide's overall schedule.

But Alabama has two losses, including a loss to Tennessee, which the committee ranks No. 8.

That creates an important question: If Tennessee beat Alabama, what makes Alabama five spots better?

Head-to-head should not automatically settle every comparison, but the committee should explain what outweighs that result.

UCLA at No. 4: Undefeated deserves recognition

UCLA is 9–0 and just defeated Minnesota 34–20.

Ovi's rank UCLA ninth, while the committee ranks the Bruins fourth. The committee clearly places substantial value on UCLA's undefeated season.

The argument for UCLA is straightforward: The Bruins have beaten every opponent on their schedule.

The argument against placing UCLA so high must be supported by its strength of schedule and quality of wins, rather than assumptions about conference strength.

Notre Dame at No. 5: The head-to-head argument

Notre Dame defeated Miami 31–24.

The committee ranks Notre Dame fifth and Miami seventh, which is consistent with that result. Ovi's rankings place Notre Dame third and Miami fifth.

Here, both rankings agree on the relative order.

The bigger question is whether Notre Dame's signature victory warrants a position above Alabama.

Boise State at No. 24: The playoff access question

Boise State defeated Colorado State 64–38 and sits at No. 24 in the committee rankings.

Ovi's No. 12 ranking makes Boise State a serious contender for a playoff berth, whereas the committee's placement leaves it much farther down the overall rankings.

However, the committee's 2026 playoff format reserves a place for the highest-ranked champion from the qualifying group of conferences, so a team does not necessarily have to finish in the overall Top 12 to qualify.