The writing was on the wall for about two weeks now. It looked like the College Football Playoff field was running out of spots, and someone out of the trio of Alabama, Miami and Notre Dame were going to be left without a chair at the table.

The CFP announced their 12-team field on Sunday, with seedings for all. And it was Notre Dame, a team that had won 10 straight games, that was left out of the field.

Alabama was not punished for its ugly 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game, so when it came down to just Miami and Notre Dame, the Hurricanes' victory over the Fighting Irish in Week 1 was the difference.

Indiana got the first overall seed after beating Ohio State on Saturday night in the Big Ten Championship Game. They are ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history. They last won the Big Ten in 1967. The Hoosiers will play in the Rose Bowl.

Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech got the other byes.

The SEC leads the field with five teams. The Big Ten has three, the Big 12, ACC, Sun Belt and American have one each.

The four top seeds

The top four seeds get byes in the first round. Here's who got the bye:

No. 1 seed Indiana Hoosiers (13-0): Indiana clinched the top seed with a 13-10 upset of Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday night. It's the first time in school history that the Hoosiers have been ranked No. 1. Next up: Indiana will play the 8/9 winner in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2026.

No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1): Ohio State wasn't punished much for the loss to Indiana, falling just one spot to No. 2. They were the No. 8 seed a year ago when they won four straight games to take the national title. Next up: Ohio State will play the 7/10 winner in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 31.

No. 3 seed. Georgia Bulldogs (12-1): Georgia avenged its only loss of the season by beating Alabama 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. They held the Crimson Tide to minus-3 yards rushing on 16 carries. Next up: Georgia will play the 6/11 winner in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Calif. on Jan. 1, 26.

No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1): Texas Tech beat BYU handily to win the Big 12 Championship Game 34-7 on Saturday in Arlington, Texas. It was their first Big 12 title in their 30 years of competition. Tech also beat BYU 29-7 four weeks ago.  Next up: Texas Tech will play the 5/12 winner in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Jan. 1, 2026.

First-round matchups

No. 5 seed Oregon Ducks (11-1)  vs. No. 12 seed James Madison Dukes (12-1), Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. TV: TNT. The winner plays No. 4 seed Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.

No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (11-1) vs. No. 11 seed Tulane Green Wave (11-2), Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. TV: TNT. The winner plays No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.

No. 7 seed Texas A&M Aggies (11-1) vs. No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes (10-2), Saturday, Dec. 20 at Noon ET at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. TV: ABC/ESPN. The winner plays Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.

No. 8 seed Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) vs. No. 9 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) Friday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. TV: ABC/ESPN. The winner plays Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.

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