The closest thing resembling drama for the first big reveal of this season's College Football Playoff rankings hinged on which undefeated team would receive top billing.

Answer: The defending champions, Ohio State.

The Buckeyes took the top spot in the first set of 2025 rankings Tuesday, followed by Indiana and Texas A&M.

In choosing the two Big Ten teams ahead of Texas A&M, the 12-person committee appeared to give less weight to A&M's tougher schedule and its 41-40 win over tenth-ranked Notre Dame at the beginning of the season and more to the way the Buckeyes and Hoosiers have mowed down opponents this year, with only two games between the two of them decided by less than 10 points.

Committee chair Mack Rhoades said, ultimately, the committee watched the tape.

“We felt like a separa

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