In Tuesday’s penultimate CFP projection, the Aggies were No. 7, a four-spot slide from the No. 3 ranking it had been in the previous four editions. No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana remain at the top for the fifth consecutive week, while Georgia, at No. 3, unseats the Aggies as the highest-ranked SEC team.
In this week’s fictional bracket, A&M would host a first-round game at Kyle Field and would face Notre Dame.
A&M (11-1, 7-1) fell to Texas (9-3, 6-2) in the regular-season finale, costing the Aggies a spot in the SEC title game for the second season in a row.
The loss was damaging in the eyes of the selection committee. A&M’s slide slid down this week, almost assuring it won’t earn a top-four ranking and a first-round bye.
With Championship Weekend as the final factor for consideration, the Aggies must wait and see how the outcome of the upcoming games affects their standings.
The final rankings are set to be released Dec. 7.
In the 12-team format, the five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids. The next seven highest-ranked teams are then included. A Group of Five program will be at least one of those selections.
As of 2025, those ranked Nos. 1-4 will get a first-round bye. In 2024, the first year of the 12-team CFP, the four highest-ranked conference champions received a first-round bye, regardless of their overall ranking.
Seeds No. 5-12 will compete in the first round. The higher-seeded teams will host those games.
Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at Anthony.Catalina@statesman.com.