Georgia is the new No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The selection committee's second top 25 of 2026, released on Tuesday night, November 10, puts the Bulldogs (8-1) first, unbeaten Utah second, Alabama third and unbeaten UCLA fourth. Former No. 1 Miami fell to seventh after losing to Notre Dame, which jumped from 11th to 5th. If the season ended today, Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA would get first-round byes, and Boise State would take the 12th and last place in the bracket.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Released | Tuesday, Nov 10, 2026 (night, ET) |
|---|---|
| Games counted | Through Saturday, Nov 7 |
| No. 1 | Georgia (8-1) |
| Top four (byes) | Georgia, Utah, Alabama, UCLA |
| Unbeaten teams left | Utah and UCLA (both 9-0) |
| Biggest riser | Oregon, 23rd to 16th |
| Biggest faller | Ole Miss, 10th to 19th |
| Group of Six leader | Boise State, No. 24 |
| Next rankings | Tue, Nov 17, about 9 pm ET |
| Final rankings | Sunday, Dec 6 |
The new top 12
Ten of the 12 teams from last week's top 12 are still there, but almost all of them moved. Georgia's road win at Ole Miss, a 35-point margin, was enough to lift the Bulldogs over Miami, whose loss at Notre Dame on Saturday night cost it six places.[1][3] Utah climbed to second after beating BYU, and Alabama rose two spots to third after a road win at LSU.[3]
The committee's own notes add some history. This is Georgia's 16th week at No. 1 in the CFP era, second only to Alabama's 24. Utah's No. 2 and UCLA's No. 4 are the best rankings either school has ever had, and Alabama at 7-2 is the earliest a two-loss team has sat in the top four. The previous earliest was Auburn on November 28, 2017.[1]
Utah and UCLA are the only unbeaten teams left in the FBS. Having just two at this point ties the lowest number for a second ranking in CFP history, set in 2014.[1]
If the season ended today: the projected bracket
The 12-team field takes the five highest-ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. Seeding follows the rankings, and the top four seeds skip the first round.[1][2][3] That is why Texas Tech, ranked 12th, would miss out for now. Boise State is the highest-ranked team from a Group of Six conference at No. 24, so it would claim a champion's place and drop into the 12 seed.[1][3]
Kentucky would just about hang on at 11th even after a 34-6 defeat at Tennessee, a result that moved the Volunteers up to eighth.[1][4] Indiana fell five places during a week off. theScore points out that every Big Ten team the Hoosiers have played lost on Saturday, which hurt their schedule strength.[3]
Biggest movers
Oregon made the biggest jump, seven places from 23rd to 16th. Notre Dame's six-place leap from 11th to 5th is a first: no team had gone from outside the top 10 into the top 5 in a single week before. Tennessee rose five places and UCLA four.[1]
At the other end, Ole Miss slid nine places to 19th and Ohio State eight places to 20th. Both lost heavily at home and both dropped out of the top 12.[1][3] LSU fell seven places to 21st after the Alabama loss.[1]
The rest of the top 25
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Wake Forest | 8-1 | 16 |
| 14 | Houston | 7-2 | 17 |
| 15 | Iowa | 7-2 | 19 |
| 16 | Oregon | 6-3 | 23 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 6-3 | 21 |
| 18 | USC | 7-2 | 20 |
| 19 | Ole Miss | 6-3 | 10 |
| 20 | Ohio State | 6-3 | 12 |
| 21 | LSU | 6-3 | 14 |
| 22 | Missouri | 6-3 | 18 |
| 23 | Arizona | 7-2 | 22 |
| 24 | Boise State | 8-1 | 25 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 6-3 | Not ranked |
Houston's 14th is its best CFP ranking ever. Oklahoma State is back in the rankings for the first time since 2023, and Florida, 24th last week, dropped out.[1]
How the committee decides
The selection committee does not use one formula. It watches video, looks at data through its own portal and takes input from conferences. When teams look close, it leans on four things: strength of schedule, head-to-head results, results against common opponents, and other factors such as injuries to key players.[1]
That explains some of the odd-looking calls. Texas has more ranked wins than most but sits sixth, because its two losses came against unranked teams, a point Texas fan site Hook 'em Headlines made after the reveal.[5]
What happens next
The committee meets again on November 16 and 17, and the third rankings come out on Tuesday, November 17, at about 9 pm ET on ESPN. That is 02:00 GMT on Wednesday in the UK.[1] New rankings follow every Tuesday until the final set on Sunday, December 6, which fixes the 12-team bracket.[2] First-round games are on December 18 and 19 at campus sites, and the national championship is on Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.[1]
Other big US sports news this week: the NFL trade deadline recap and the MLB awards week results.
Frequently asked questions
Who is No. 1 in the second CFP rankings of 2026?
Georgia (8-1) is No. 1, up from second. It replaced Miami, which fell to seventh after losing to Notre Dame.[1][2]
Which teams get a first-round bye right now?
Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA, the current top four. Byes are only final after the December 6 rankings.[3]
Why is Boise State in the bracket at No. 24?
The field must include the five highest-ranked conference champions. Boise State is the top-ranked Group of Six team, so it takes a champion's spot as the 12 seed and Texas Tech drops out.[1][3]
When are the next CFP rankings?
Tuesday, November 17, at about 9 pm ET (02:00 GMT Wednesday), live on ESPN.[1]
When are the final CFP rankings?
Sunday, December 6. Those rankings set the bracket.[2]
Where can I watch the CFP rankings show?
ESPN and the ESPN app carry the weekly reveal in the US.[1]
References
- "CFP Selection Committee Releases Second Rankings of 2026". College Football Playoff. November 10, 2026.
- "Who's No. 1? CFP committee's second top 25 and bracket of 2026". ESPN (via ABC7 Chicago). November 11, 2026. Also: "Georgia jumps into CFP's top spot, followed by Utah, Alabama, UCLA". ESPN. November 10, 2026.
- "Georgia takes over top spot, Alabama sits 3rd in CFP rankings". theScore. November 10, 2026.
- "CFP Projections: Kentucky still picked by many to make field of 12". On3 (KSR). November 10, 2026.
- "Texas's unranked losses continue to weigh heavily with No. 6 rankings in 2nd CFP reveal". Hook 'em Headlines (FanSided). November 10, 2026.