College Football Playoff bracket set, Arizona moves up in final rankings

Arizona finished at No. 17 in the final 2025 College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday.

It moved up one spot in the rankings after appearing at No. 18 in Tuesday’s rankings. The Wildcats took Virginia’s spot who dropped to No. 19 after losing to Duke in the ACC Championship game on Saturday.

Three Big 12 teams finished ahead of Arizona in the rankings: No. 4 Texas Tech, No. 12 BYU and No. 15 Utah. Texas Tech will receive a bye in the CFP after beating BYU in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday.

The Wildcats (9-3, 6-3 Big 12) will play SMU in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Jan. 2.

Full 2025 College Football Playoff bracket

— (12) James Madison at (5) Oregon; winner plays (4) Texas Tech in Orange Bowl

— (9) Alabama at (8) Oklahoma; winner plays (1) Indiana in Rose Bowl

— (11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss; winner plays (3) Georgia in Sugar Bowl

— (10) Miami at (7) Texas A&M; winner plays (2) Ohio State in Cotton Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl in Glendale (Jan. 8) will be the national semifinal between the Sugar and Cotton bowl winners. The Peach Bowl (Jan. 9) will host the winners of the Orange and Rose bowls.

Final 2025 College Football Playoff rankings

1. Indiana
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Texas Tech
5. Oregon
6. Ole Miss
7. Texas A&M
8. Oklahoma
9. Alabama
10. Miami
11. Notre Dame
12. BYU
13. Texas
14. Vanderbilt
15. Utah
16. USC
17. Arizona
18. Michigan
19. Virginia
20. Tulane
21. Houston
22. Georgia Tech
23. Iowa
24. James Madison
25. North Texas

Related

Arizona Wildcats to play SMU Mustangs in Holiday BowlArizona QB Noah Fifita, ASU WR Jordyn Tyson headline All-Big 12 First TeamArizona's Danny Gonzales named semifinalist for top assistant awardStart times announced for Arizona State, Arizona’s Week 6 gamesCircus takeaway: Arizona alum Genesis Smith picks off Josh Allen on back-to-back passesNear flawless second half from Arizona defense helps Wildcats rally to beat Washington State