Miami opened the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season in the top spot Tuesday, giving the Hurricanes the No. 1 seed after a strong start to the year.
Last year’s national runner-up is one of three unbeaten teams still standing and landed ahead of No. 2 Georgia, No.
3 Utah and No. 4 Indiana in the committee’s initial top four.
The full top 12 looked like this: Miami at 8-0, Georgia at 7-1, Utah at 8-0, Indiana at 8-1, Alabama at 6-2, Kentucky at 7-1, Texas at 6-2, UCLA at 8-0, BYU at 7-1, Ole Miss at 6-2, Notre Dame at 7-1 and Ohio State at 6-2.
The placement of Indiana and Alabama stood out most in the opening bracket. Indiana’s only loss came against Ohio State, yet the Hoosiers were placed four spots ahead of the Buckeyes, who check in at No.
- That gap points to the committee possibly weighing the injury to Ohio State starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
Alabama’s No. 5 ranking also drew attention. The Crimson Tide share a 6-2 record with several other SEC teams, including No. 13 Tennessee, but they were slotted well ahead of the Volunteers despite Tennessee’s 26-10 win over Alabama earlier this season.
Boise State landed at No. 25 in the rankings, but as the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, it would take the 12th seed in the playoff field over Ohio State.
If the bracket held today, the four byes would go to Miami, Georgia, Utah and Indiana. The first-round matchups would be Alabama against Boise State, Kentucky against Notre Dame, Texas against Ole Miss, and UCLA against BYU.
In Other News...
Indianas Quarterback Decision Suddenly Feels Bigger Than One Minnesota Win
Curt Cignetti spent part of his radio show this week trying to put Indianas quarterback situation in clearer focus, and the conversation only underscored how much the position now shapes the Hoosiers outlook. Starter Josh Hoover is still recovering from the injury he sustained against Ohio State and is resting for now, while Grant Wilson stepped in after halftime against Minnesota and helped steady the offense in a game Indiana eventually won in overtime.
Wilsons path to this moment has been a winding one, including a return to Bloomington after another player transferred, but Cignetti said he has confidence in the backups ability to handle the job. With Hoover unavailable and Wilson having just delivered in a pressure spot, the Hoosiers suddenly have a quarterback question that reaches beyond one comeback win and into the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Just Added Fuel To Indianas Playoff Debate
Urban Meyers latest turn in the College Football Playoff conversation only sharpened the pressure around Indianas place in the race. The former Ohio State coach, now working as a FOX commentator, said the Buckeyes are on life support in the rankings and need to keep winning, while also pointing out that Indiana has climbed high despite a schedule that has drawn scrutiny. He also flagged Notre Dames thin margin for error, adding another layer to a crowded national picture.
For Indiana, the bigger takeaway is not just where the Hoosiers sit, but how little room there is for any of the contenders to slip. Ohio States recent losses and difficult stretch ahead have made the Big Ten path even more crowded, and every ranking update seems to invite a fresh debate about who has earned its spot and who still has work to do. In a playoff race this tight, Indiana is no longer just trying to stay in the conversation - it is part of the argument. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Just Gave Hoosiers Fans Another Reason To Rally
Curt Cignetti used his weekly radio show in Bloomington with Don Fischer to do more than break down Indiana football. He also took aim at the College Football Playoff rankings, arguing that the media gives too much benefit of the doubt to SEC teams. For Hoosiers fans, it was another reminder that their coach is willing to say out loud what plenty of people around the Big Ten have been muttering for years.
The comments quickly spread well beyond the local airwaves, giving Indiana another burst of attention at a time when the program is trying to keep building momentum. Cignetti has made a habit of defending the Big Ten, and this latest round only adds to the sense that he is comfortable leaning into conference pride while putting Indiana in the middle of a larger national conversation. [Read more 🡒]