ESPN’s Heather Dinich shook up her College Football Playoff projection after a wild Week 10, and the biggest headline is simple: there’s a new No. 1.
Miami’s 31-24 loss to No. 11 Notre Dame opened the door, and Dinich moved Georgia into the top spot in her updated 12-team field.
Georgia is joined near the top by Utah at No. 2, Alabama at No. 3 and Texas at No.
The rest of Dinich’s projected bracket also reflects how much Saturday changed the picture. Notre Dame checks in at No. 5, followed by Miami at No.
6, Indiana at No. 7, UCLA at No.
8, Tennessee at No. 9, Kentucky at No.
10, Texas Tech at No. 11 and BYU at No. 12.
Week 10 was loaded from the start, with six games featuring teams ranked in the Top 18. Georgia and Alabama both strengthened their standing in the SEC with dominant road wins over teams ranked in the top 15, while Miami’s defeat guaranteed the top of the rankings would look different.
The SEC remains the deepest conference in Dinich’s projection, with five teams in the top 10. The B1G 12 has the next-most with three, while the B1G is down to two teams after Ohio State dropped its second straight game in a 41-22 home loss to Oregon.
Tennessee looks like one of the biggest movers after entering the initial CFP picture at No. 13 and climbing into Dinich’s latest field. And with plenty of big games still ahead, this bracket figures to keep changing.
In Other News...
Josh Heupels DaSaahn Brame Update Gives Vols Fans Some Relief
DaSaahn Brames exit against Kentucky briefly added another uneasy moment to Tennessees night, especially after the tight end went down following the controversial incomplete-pass ruling in the end zone. Anytime a player leaves with a head injury, the immediate concern is bigger than the result on the field, and for the Volunteers it was another reminder of how quickly a game can turn.
Josh Heupel eased some of that worry after the game, saying Brame is doing well and is expected to be in good condition for the upcoming matchup with Texas A&M. Tennessee still has to get through the first availability report, which comes Wednesday night, but for now the update gives Vols fans a little relief heading into a game week that already has plenty of attention on it. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Playoff Standing Suddenly Looks Less Comfortable Than It Seems
Tennessees spot in the latest College Football Playoff conversation looks secure on paper, but the broader SEC picture is starting to feel crowded. In ESPNs latest round of predictions, 11 of the networks 12 writers projected four SEC teams into the 2026 bracket, with Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas showing up most often as the leagues presumed heavyweights.
For the Volunteers, the takeaway is less about being in the mix and more about how little margin there may be if the conference keeps stacking contenders around them. Kentucky, despite sitting No. 6 in the initial CFP rankings, did not appear in any of the new projections, a reminder that early positioning can shift quickly once the selection debate starts to narrow. The full set of ESPN picks only reinforces how tightly the race is being judged at the top. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Defense Just Sent Texas A&M A Brutal Message
Tennessees defense kept rolling in a 34-6 win over Kentucky, and Arion Carter was at the center of it with 13 tackles, four for loss and two sacks. The Volunteers smothered the Wildcats from start to finish, forcing three turnovers and shutting down fourth-down chances as the game tilted decisively in Tennessees favor.
That kind of performance lands with extra force this week because Texas A&M is next on the schedule, and the Aggies are already in a precarious spot after a loss to South Carolina. They need to win two of their final three games to become bowl eligible, and now they have to do it against a Tennessee defense that just spent an afternoon sending a very clear message. [Read more 🡒]