2025 Week 3 CFP Resume Rankings!

Welcome back to the 2025 College Football Playoff Resume Rankings!

Week 3 ramped up the intensity with conference play kicking into gear, delivering overtime thrillers, defensive masterclasses, and upsets that flipped the script on preseason expectations. Our 80+ normalized team strength rating systems—like SP+, FEI, FPI, Sagarin, and our proprietary composite metrics—processed a weekend full of high-stakes drama. We reset the board each week, scrutinizing resumes from the ground up for an unbiased view of the 12-team playoff chase. From bubble teams to locks, we're monitoring the entire at-large field in true "Bubble Watch" fashion. Buckle up as we break down Week 3's seismic shifts!

Quick Hitters: Week 3’s Biggest Moments

• Georgia Survives Tennessee in OT Epic 

In a Game of the Week showdown that lived up to the hype, No. 6 Georgia edged No. 15 Tennessee 44-41 in overtime at Neyland Stadium. Gunner Stockton threw for 304 yards and two TDs while adding a rushing score, but it was Nate Frazier's 21-yard OT scamper and Josh McCray's 1-yard plunge that sealed it after a review overturned an initial no-call. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar dazzled with four TD passes, but a missed 43-yard FG at the end of regulation proved costly. This gritty road win propels Georgia from outside of our resume top 25 into the top 5, while Tennessee missed a huge resume building opportunity, as Georgia's streak extended to nine straight in the series.

• LSU's Defense Dominates Florida 

No. 3 LSU stonewalled Florida 20-10 in Baton Rouge, forcing five interceptions off Gators QB DJ Lagway—including two by Dashawn Spears, one returned 58 yards for a TD. Garrett Nussmeier managed 220 yards and a score, but it was the Tigers' opportunistic D that shone, holding Florida to another abysmal outing. This SEC opener cements LSU's defensive credentials and preserves their spot near the top of our resume rankings. Florida's turnover woes drop them further from contention, though there is still considerable resume opportunity on the schedule.

• Texas A&M Shocks Notre Dame on the Road 

In a thriller that stung Notre Dame's playoff hopes, Texas A&M stunned the Irish 41-40 on a last-second touchdown. Marcel Reed's dual-threat magic combined with a botched PAT snap by the Irish, flipped the script on Notre Dame's start to the season. Now 0-2 after losses to Miami and A&M, the Fighting Irish plummet in our metrics despite still being highly valued by our composite team strength ratings. Texas A&M surges into the top 5 with this marquee road win.

Other Standouts

• Georgia Tech Stuns Clemson with Walk-Off FG 

Aidan Birr's 55-yard field goal as time expired lifted Georgia Tech to a 24-21 upset over No. 12 Clemson, snapping a nine-game skid in the rivalry. Haynes King orchestrated a game-tying drive late, but Clemson's sloppy play (building on their Troy scare) continues to erode their resume. The Yellow Jackets, now boast a signature win that catapults them into our at-large selection for the CFP as the last team in following week 3.

• Vanderbilt Pulls Off SEC Stunner at South Carolina 

Without QB LaNorris Sellers (injured early), No. 11 South Carolina fell 31-7 to Vanderbilt in Columbia. The Commodores' balanced attack overwhelmed a Gamecocks defense that couldn't adjust, and without Sellers South Carolina couldn’t keep up. This boosts Vanderbilt's resume significantly, elevating them into the top 10, while South Carolina's stock tumbles—exposing vulnerabilities after their Virginia Tech rout last weekend.

• Miami Crushes South Florida, Ends Bulls' Dream Run 

No. 4 Miami throttled South Florida 45-17, with Carson Beck tossing for 340 yards and multiple TDs in a statement win. The Hurricanes' defense sacked USF's Byrum Brown relentlessly, ending the Bulls' upset streak (Boise State, Florida) and likely dampening their G5 playoff bid dreams. Miami slid out of the top 5, largely by being passed by others with stronger wins relative to competition, while South Florida slides but remains in the top position for the G5 by one position over Tulane.

Week 3 CFP Resume Rankings

Notes on the CFP Resume Rankings

• Resume Realities vs. Poll Hype: The gap widens between raw accomplishments and voter bias. Ole Miss, with wins over Kentucky and Arkansas, holds a raw resume virtually of equal value to Miami’s resume wins over Notre Dame (now 0-2) and South Florida (how good is Florida really?).  Similarly, Texas A&M's road stunner at Notre Dame outshines Penn State's cupcake cruise, but preseason expectations keep the Nittany Lions inflated. Our metrics reward the chaos-makers—teams like Georgia Tech and Vandy now crash the party based on quality wins, not expectations.  There are 103 other teams who we would project to beat San Jose State and UTEP at home and lose to Ohio State on the road.  Did Texas show strength in the loss to the Buckeyes?  Yes, but strength in losses does not build a complete resume, which is why UT joins Penn State as AP top 10 teams we have unranked this week.

• Conference Balance Shifts: A playoff snapshot today? Six SEC squads (hello to LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt), two Big Ten, two ACC (Miami holds strong, Clemson cedes to Georgia Tech), one Big 12, and a G5 wildcard (Tulane lurks but USF holds for now).  On overall conference strength the Big Ten loses more ground to the SEC, now closer to the Big 12 in third than the SEC in first.  The American continues to separate as the G5 class champion for 2025.

Top 10 Unexpected Results of the Season

UCLA's bludgeoning at the hands of New Mexico resulted in a coach firing and a top 3 spot in our biggest upsets of the season so far. Will they remain in our silo of shame or will others come to take their dishonorable spots as the season progresses? Only time will tell!

Week 4 Game of the Week

• No. 21 Michigan at Nebraska: There are other more appetizing matchups if you don’t look deeper than the AP rankings, but on game quality the resurgence of the Cornhuskers hosting Michigan barely tops the Indiana/Illinois matchup as the game of the week.  Week 4 is deep in that there are 7 games with game score in the 70+ range, but light at the top.  We have Michigan by (-1.5) in this one, but if Oklahoma proved anything in their home win over the Wolverines it’s that starting a freshman on the road early in the season against a packed madhouse is liable to generate trouble.  Don’t be surprised if the Husker hype train starts picking up serious steam following a win this weekend.

That’s a wrap for Week 3! If you have questions about the CFP Resume Rankings or want to follow along, find us @CFPResumeRanks on X. Our DMs are open for inquiries or partnership opportunities. Have a great week, and let’s see what Week 4 delivers!

[Note: For tables instead of graphics, visit our resume rankings page at https://cfpresumerankings.wixsite.com/cfpresumerankings]