College Football Playoff chaos has arrived. After a weekend of shockers, Selection Sunday feels like a cliffhanger. The bracket drops today, and nobody is safe. Fans, coaches, even players are refreshing phones by the second. The new 12-team format just met the wildest conference title weekend in years. Buckle up. 🏈
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Why Selection Sunday Feels Different
The reveal happens today at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN. It will show the full top 12, the seeds, and the path to the title. The format is new this season, and it changes how we talk about power and access.
Under straight seeding, the committee ranks teams 1 to 12. The top four seeds get byes. Seeds 5 through 12 host First Round games on campus. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids. Seven more teams get in as at-large picks.
CFP Selection Show, Today, 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. Final rankings and full 12-team bracket.
The stakes are massive. Upsets flipped the script in almost every league. And the Group of Five is right in the middle of the conversation.
The Upsets That Shook the Bracket
Indiana shocked Ohio State 13 to 10 to win the Big Ten. It was gritty, tense, and decided by a stunning missed field goal. Indiana’s defense bent but did not break. That win likely locks the Hoosiers into the top seed. It also flips the Big Ten hierarchy on its head, at least for today.
Texas Tech hammered BYU 34 to 7 to take the Big 12. The Red Raiders controlled the line of scrimmage and won every leverage snap. Twelve wins, a league title, and a strong profile make them a real bye contender. Their rise is one of the sport’s best stories this season.
Duke outlasted Virginia 27 to 20 in overtime to grab the ACC crown. The Blue Devils leaned on toughness and special teams. That result scrambled the at-large math and could move other contenders up or down. It also raises a question. How will the committee stack ACC champ Duke against stronger résumés from elsewhere?
Tulane handled North Texas 34 to 21 to win the American. The Green Wave bring balance, discipline, and speed. Their automatic bid feels secure. Their presence also boosts the Group of Five’s case for equal respect under straight seeding.
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The five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids. The other seven spots are at-large selections.
Who Won, Who Lost in the Chaos
The bracket is still a mystery, but Saturday’s fallout is clear.
- Big winners: Indiana, Texas Tech, Tulane. Strong titles, cleaner paths, better seeds.
- Bubble lifelines: Teams that avoided title game landmines may slide up as at-larges.
- Tough breaks: Ohio State and Virginia lost control of their seed lines.
- Group of Five momentum: Tulane is in. Sun Belt champ James Madison is surging in the race to be ranked high enough for access.
The athletic stories matter here. Indiana’s defense played championship football. Texas Tech’s trench play looks built for December. Duke’s overtime poise still counts with the committee. Tulane’s speed and finishing power travels well to a First Round stage.
Seeds 5 through 12 host First Round games on campus. Expect cold weather, loud bands, and real home-field edge.
What This Means for the CFP’s Future
This is the first year of straight seeding in a 12-team bracket. Fans are already seeing the upside. Better rewards for the best teams. Clearer byes. True campus games. The debate is not over though.
There is heat around Group of Five access. Tulane is in, and JMU is pushing for a historic Sun Belt breakthrough. If a G5 team lands a friendly seed, it will fuel calls for a bigger field. The CFP has delayed a final decision on future changes until January 23, 2026. A move to 14, 16, or even more teams is still on the table.
The message from this weekend is simple. Depth across the sport is real. More teams can win late. The bracket should reflect that reality, and today’s reveal will show how far the committee is willing to go.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the CFP Selection Show?
A: Today at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN. The final rankings and bracket will be unveiled.
Q: How does the 12-team format work?
A: The committee ranks teams 1 to 12. The top four get byes. Seeds 5 to 12 play on campus in the First Round.
Q: Who gets automatic bids?
A: The five highest-ranked conference champions are automatic qualifiers. Seven more teams are selected at-large.
Q: Where are First Round games played?
A: At the home stadiums of seeds 5 through 8. Seeds 9 through 12 travel.
Q: Can a Group of Five team make a deep run?
A: Yes. Tulane is in, and others can win if the matchups fit. Speed and turnovers change everything in December.
Selection Sunday’s energy is different this year. The upsets were loud. The bracket will be louder. With campus games coming and byes at a premium, every seed matters. Set your watch, charge your phone, and enjoy the reveal. The road to the title starts now.
