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...
Utah Already Faces A Concerning Early Test At Home
Utah had to dig itself out of an ugly first half to get past Long Beach State, rallying from a 17-point deficit and escaping with a 66-63 win. Trey Campbell was a major part of the turnaround, helping steady the Utes when the game threatened to get away from them, but the result did little to soften the edge in the building after the final buzzer.
Alex Jensen made it clear he was not satisfied with how Utah opened the game, even in victory, and now the Utes turn around for another home test with Towson coming in. The Tigers dropped their opener 89-70 at Santa Clara, and Pat Skerry said the effort was there even if the execution was not, which makes this an early chance for Utah to show it can start cleaner before the margin for error gets any smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Offense Just Gave BYU One More Problem To Worry About
Utahs offense has become a moving target under coordinator Kevin McGiven, and thats part of what makes it so difficult to pin down from week to week. The Utes have leaned into versatility all season, with backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin showing up in the run game and even lining up at receiver, while seven different players have already cleared 100 receiving yards. Braden Pegan has been the most productive target in the passing game, and the balance has given Utah more ways to stress a defense than just one featured option.
Hunter Andrews also gave the group a boost in a recent game, adding another layer to an offense that has found production from all over the formation. Daniel Bray chipped in with a rushing touchdown as well, underscoring how many pieces can matter in a given week. With BYU next on the schedule, McGiven pointed to the Cougars defensive complexity, which only adds to the intrigue for a Utah attack that already seems comfortable making opponents account for just about everyone. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Utah Just Turned Into A Very Different Game Day
The early alarm clock is part of the deal this week in Salt Lake City, where Utah is set to face BYU at 10 a.m. MST. It is a different kind of game day for the Utes and their fans, who are used to building their Saturdays around a later kickoff and now have to rethink everything from breakfast to tailgating.
Around town, the adjustment is already showing up in real time. Fans are reshaping their pregame routines to fit the morning start, with some leaning into breakfast-style gatherings, while local bars and restaurants are opening earlier to catch the crowd before and during the game. For a rivalry weekend that already carries plenty of energy, the timing adds a fresh wrinkle to the usual script. [Read more 🡒]