CFP Committee Approves New Seeding; Texas A&M Near-Lock

The CFP management committee approved a seeding change for the 12-team playoff, awarding first-round byes to the top four teams in the final rankings rather than automatically to the four highest-ranked conference champions. The selection committee will release its initial rankings Tuesday night, with Ohio State and Indiana widely expected to occupy the top two spots and most debate focused on placements roughly 5–25. Texas has rebounded under Arch Manning and now sits near the projected playoff bubble (around 11th) after recent wins, while Texas A&M remains among the nation’s elite (No. 3 in major polls) and is viewed as a near-lock if it avoids a late slip. Louisville (7–1) is emerging as a sleeper in analytic projections and FPI and is rising as a possible top-12 entrant. Separately, North Carolina released its expanded eight-class high school playoff brackets — the first postseason under the new system — with first-round games set for Nov. 8.