College Football Playoff outlook: Texas and Notre Dame sharpen their paths as rankings settle
Texas sits at No. 7 and Notre Dame at No. 8 in the latest AP poll, and both programs have clear—but different—paths in the 12-team playoff era. Rivalry wins and marquee nonconference matchups will shape their resumes. Notre Dame visits Texas A&M on Sept. 13, 2025, a tone-setter. Texas, now in the SEC, can grab a bye with a league title or land an at-large with a strong record.