First College Football Playoff Rankings Of 2026 Released & Projected 12-Team Bracket

Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports
The College Football Playoff selection committee unveiled its first Top 25 rankings of the 2026 season Tuesday night, giving fans their first look at where teams stand in the race for the 12-team playoff.
The SEC landed eight teams in the initial rankings, led by Georgia at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 5.
Kentucky (No. 6), Texas (No. 7), Ole Miss (No. 10), Tennessee (No. 13), LSU (No. 14), and Missouri (No. 18) also made the rankings, giving the conference several contenders heading into the final month of the regular season.
Miami claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by Georgia, Utah, and Indiana, rounding out the top four.
With several major conference matchups still on the schedule, including Alabama at LSU, Georgia at Ole Miss, and Kentucky at Tennessee this Saturday, the rankings could shift significantly in the coming weeks.
Here are the complete initial College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings:
1. Miami (8-0)
2. Georgia (7-1)
3. Utah (8-0)
4. Indiana (8-1)
5. Alabama (6-2)
6. Kentucky (7-1)
7. Texas (6-2)
8. UCLA (8-0)
9. BYU (7-1)
10. Ole Miss (6-2)
11. Notre Dame (7-1)
12. Ohio State (6-2)
13. Tennessee (6-2)
14. LSU (6-2)
15. Texas Tech (7-1)
16. Wake Forest (7-1)
17. Houston (6-2)
18. Missouri (6-2)
19. Iowa (6-2)
20. USC (7-2)
21. South Carolina (5-3)
22. Arizona (6-2)
23. Oregon (5-3)
24. Florida (5-3)
25. Boise State (7-1)
The SEC landed eight teams in the initial rankings, led by Georgia at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 5.
Kentucky (No. 6), Texas (No. 7), Ole Miss (No. 10), Tennessee (No. 13), LSU (No. 14), and Missouri (No. 18) also made the rankings, giving the conference several contenders heading into the final month of the regular season.
Miami claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by Georgia, Utah, and Indiana, rounding out the top four.
With several major conference matchups still on the schedule, including Alabama at LSU, Georgia at Ole Miss, and Kentucky at Tennessee this Saturday, the rankings could shift significantly in the coming weeks.
Here are the complete initial College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings:
1. Miami (8-0)
2. Georgia (7-1)
3. Utah (8-0)
4. Indiana (8-1)
5. Alabama (6-2)
6. Kentucky (7-1)
7. Texas (6-2)
8. UCLA (8-0)
9. BYU (7-1)
10. Ole Miss (6-2)
11. Notre Dame (7-1)
12. Ohio State (6-2)
13. Tennessee (6-2)
14. LSU (6-2)
15. Texas Tech (7-1)
16. Wake Forest (7-1)
17. Houston (6-2)
18. Missouri (6-2)
19. Iowa (6-2)
20. USC (7-2)
21. South Carolina (5-3)
22. Arizona (6-2)
23. Oregon (5-3)
24. Florida (5-3)
25. Boise State (7-1)
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