Miami is the first team off the board in the College Football Playoff committee’s initial rankings for 2026, landing at No. 1 when the top 25 were unveiled Tuesday.
The committee will keep updating the rankings every Tuesday through the end of the regular season, with the final set due Sunday, Dec. 6. That last release will lock in the 12-team field.
For now, the bracket picture starts with Miami as the No. 1 seed, followed by Georgia at No. 2, Utah at No. 3 and Indiana at No. 4, giving all four teams first-round byes.
The opening-round matchup currently listed is No. 9 BYU at No. 8 UCLA in a campus-site game, with the winner set to face Miami.
Here’s the full top 25 from the committee’s first rankings of the season:
- Miami Hurricanes (8-0)
- Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
- Utah Utes (8-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (8-1)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2)
- Kentucky Wildcats (7-1)
- Texas Longhorns (6-2)
- UCLA Bruins (8-0)
- BYU Cougars (7-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (6-2)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1)
- Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)
- LSU Tigers (6-2)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-1)
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-1)
- Houston Cougars (6-2)
- Missouri Tigers (6-2)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2)
- USC Trojans (7-2)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3)
- Arizona Wildcats (6-2)
- Oregon Ducks (5-3)
- Florida Gators (5-3)
- Boise State Broncos (7-1)
In Other News...
Oregon Found An Unexpected Answer Up Front At The Perfect Time
When Oregon needed stability up front, Tommy Tofi ended up being the unexpected answer. The freshman offensive lineman has started the last two games at left guard, and in the process became the first freshman to start a regular season game on the offensive line under Dan Lanning. It is a notable step for a young player who has earned trust through steady work, development and the kind of day-to-day growth that usually happens out of the spotlight.
Tofis emergence has also shown up in the details that matter most to an offensive line. He had a key block on a touchdown run against Northwestern, a small but telling sign that he is already helping Oregon function more cleanly in the run game. For a Ducks front that is always under scrutiny, having a rookie settle in this quickly changes the conversation up front, even if the bigger test for him is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Reopened A Debate Ducks Fans Thought Was Over
Oregons return to the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 23 after beating Northwestern has put the Ducks back in a conversation many fans had already filed away for later. The season has had its share of flaws and damaging losses, but the path is suddenly visible again, and it starts with a stretch that leaves little room for error. A win over Northwestern was enough to get the Ducks back on the board, and a few other results around the country helped create the opening.
Now the bigger question is whether Oregon can turn that opening into something real. The Ducks still have to keep winning, and the next step comes against Ohio State, which makes the margin for error feel even thinner. Their climb has been helped by stronger play from key contributors and a little chaos elsewhere in the rankings, but the only thing that will settle the debate is what happens next. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has A Backfield Question Before Ohio State
Oregons backfield took an unexpected hit in the win over Northwestern when Jordon Davison went down with a leg injury in the first quarter and never came back after halftime. With the Ducks already in the middle of a physical matchup, the loss forced true freshman Brandon Smith into a bigger role, and he responded by leading the team with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Now the focus shifts to how Oregon handles the week leading into Ohio State, where depth at running back suddenly matters a lot more. Dan Lanning pointed to the physical nature of the game and said Davisons status will be updated in the upcoming injury report, leaving the Ducks with at least one key lineup question to sort out before a much bigger test arrives. [Read more 🡒]