The season’s first College Football Playoff rankings will be unveiled at 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN. CFP hopefuls have four weeks left in the regular season, followed by conference championship weekend, to make their cases for inclusion in the 12-team field.

The rules remain largely the same as in 2024, with the five highest-ranked conference champions qualifying automatically and seven at-large berths going to the highest-ranked remaining teams. One change is the top four seeds, which receive first-round byes, no longer have to be conference champs .

Here’s a look at where Big Ten contenders and independent Notre Dame stand — and what they need to do. (Rankings from the most recent Associated Press poll .)

No. 10 Notre Dame

Record: 6-2. Losses to No. 18 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M.

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