The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season are set to spark plenty of debate, and the committee has a crowded board to sort through.
At the top, Miami holds the No. 1 spot. The projected ACC champion is still unbeaten, but the Hurricanes head straight into a major test at Notre Dame this weekend.
Georgia comes in at No. 2, even with a loss to Auburn on the résumé. The Bulldogs also own wins over Alabama and Georgia, and that combination keeps them near the front of the pack.
Utah checks in at No. 3 after staying perfect so far. The Utes now face a crucial rivalry matchup with BYU on Saturday in the Holy War.
Indiana lands at No. 4, with Ohio State’s loss pushing the Hoosiers back into Big Ten favorite territory. Alabama follows at No. 5, a strong placement despite defeats to Georgia and Tennessee.
Kentucky sits at No. 6 and remains in first place in the SEC, though the Wildcats have a tough road ahead at Tennessee this week. Texas is right behind at No. 7, helped by wins over Ohio State and Ole Miss.
UCLA arrives at No. 8, with Bob Chesney still undefeated and, as the rankings suggest, very much in position to keep rolling. BYU is No. 9, and the trip to Utah could swing the Cougars’ standing in a big way.
Ole Miss rounds out the top 10, and the Rebels get Georgia at home this weekend in a huge SEC showdown. Notre Dame comes in at No. 11, still hanging onto a spot in the top dozen as it prepares to face Miami and prove whether it belongs there.
Further down the board, Boise State is slotted at No. 25. The Broncos remain the top Group of Six team and the No. 12 seed, but they had to survive a shootout against Texas State last time out.
If the playoff began today, the bracket would have No. 12 Boise State at No.
5 Alabama, with the winner advancing to face No. 4 Indiana.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Suddenly Hands Miami A Huge Opening In South Bend
Notre Dames injury report ahead of its matchup with Miami gives the Hurricanes a little more reason to believe they can walk into South Bend and make things uncomfortable. The Irish are dealing with a cluster of absences on both sides of the ball, including defensive tackle Francis Brewu, who is questionable with a left knee injury, and captain linebacker Drayk Bowen, who has already been ruled out with a right ankle injury. Add in the loss of multiple other defensive linemen and a pair of offensive linemen, and the depth chart suddenly looks a lot thinner than it did a few days ago.
For Miami, the timing matters. Any trip to Notre Dame Stadium is a major test, but the Hurricanes now have a clearer path to attacking a front that may not be at full strength and a defense missing one of its most important leaders. The full picture still depends on how Notre Dames questionable players respond closer to kickoff, but the opening is real, and Miami will know it has a chance to press an Irish team that is already shorthanded in some critical spots. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces Its Toughest Test Yet With Everything On The Line
The stage could hardly be bigger for Miami, which heads to South Bend on Nov. 7 with the No. 1 ranking and a matchup against No. 4 Notre Dame that carries the feel of a season-defining November night. It is the kind of game that brings the rivalrys history back into focus, while also putting the spotlight on the players who have driven both teams into the national championship conversation.
For the Hurricanes, Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney will be central to whatever they do offensively, and Notre Dame has its own answer in quarterback CJ Carr. With both teams arriving highly ranked and playing with plenty on the line, this one has the ingredients of a playoff-caliber measuring stick, even before a single snap is taken in South Bend. [Read more 🡒]
Elija Lofton Is Giving Miami A New Reason To Feel Dangerous
Elija Lofton has quietly become one of the more interesting pieces in Miamis offense over the last six games, and the junior tight ends expanded role has started to show up in the kind of moments that matter. Against UNC, he caught three passes for 48 yards and helped keep a key drive alive with a 12-yard grab that extended the lead, a sequence that fit the growing sense that Miami has found another reliable option in the passing game.
Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson singled out Loftons work on that scoring drive, a sign that the Hurricanes are beginning to trust him in bigger spots. For an offense looking to keep defenses honest, having a tight end who can step into a pivotal role changes the picture a little, and Loftons recent usage suggests Miami may have found another matchup problem to lean on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]