The first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season are here. The selection committee released its debut Top 25 on Tuesday, November 3, with Miami (8-0) at No. 1 ahead of Georgia, Utah and Indiana. The committee re-ranks every week through Selection Day, and the next reveal is Tuesday, November 10. Below you will find the full first Top 25, the projected 12-team bracket, the complete release schedule, and a printable tracker to follow the race all season.
Next reveal: the second 2026 CFP rankings drop Tuesday, November 10 at 9:00 PM ET on ESPN. We update this page right after it is released. Last updated: November 6, 2026.
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its first 2026 rankings on Tuesday, November 3, and a new top 25 drops every Tuesday until the 12-team field is set on Selection Day, Sunday, December 6. Here is the full release schedule, how the 12-team playoff works, and a free printable tracker so you can follow every week’s movement.
Latest 2026 CFP Rankings: Georgia Takes Over at No. 1
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its newest Top 25 on Tuesday, November 10. Georgia (8-1) moved up to No. 1, followed by Utah, Alabama and UCLA, the four teams in line for first-round byes if the bracket were set today. These rankings are updated every week, with the next reveal set for Tuesday, November 17.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 8-1 |
| 2 | Utah | 9-0 |
| 3 | Alabama | 7-2 |
| 4 | UCLA | 9-0 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 8-1 |
| 6 | Texas | 7-2 |
| 7 | Miami | 8-1 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 7-2 |
| 9 | Indiana | 8-1 |
| 10 | BYU | 7-2 |
| 11 | Kentucky | 7-2 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 8-1 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 8-1 |
| 14 | Houston | 7-2 |
| 15 | Iowa | 7-2 |
| 16 | Oregon | 6-3 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 6-3 |
| 18 | USC | 7-2 |
| 19 | Ole Miss | 6-3 |
| 20 | Ohio State | 6-3 |
| 21 | LSU | 6-3 |
| 22 | Missouri | 6-3 |
| 23 | Arizona | 7-2 |
| 24 | Boise State | 8-1 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 6-3 |
Under the straight-seeding format, the 12 highest-ranked teams make the field, the top four seeds earn first-round byes, and the highest-ranked Group of 6 team is guaranteed the No. 12 seed. Here is how the field projects off the latest rankings:
First-round byes: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 UCLA.
| First-round game (higher seed hosts) | Quarterfinal vs. |
|---|---|
| No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee | No. 1 Georgia |
| No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Notre Dame | No. 4 UCLA |
| No. 11 Kentucky at No. 6 Texas | No. 3 Alabama |
| No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Miami | No. 2 Utah |
Texas Tech and Wake Forest were the first two teams left out. Follow the full field on our live 12-team playoff bracket, and see how the seeds shake out in our updated CFP and bowl projections.
2026 CFP Rankings: Quick Facts
| First rankings | Tuesday, November 3 (7 PM ET, ESPN) |
| Weekly reveals | Every Tuesday through December 1 |
| Selection Day | Sunday, December 6 (field of 12 revealed) |
| Field | 12 teams (5 conference champions + 7 at-large) |
| Byes | Top 4 seeds get a first-round bye (straight seeding) |
2026 College Football Playoff Rankings Release Schedule
| Reveal | Date | Time (ET) |
| First rankings | Tuesday, Nov 3 | 7:00 PM (ESPN) |
| Week 2 | Tuesday, Nov 10 | 9:00 PM |
| Week 3 | Tuesday, Nov 17 | 9:00 PM |
| Week 4 | Tuesday, Nov 24 | 7:30 PM |
| Penultimate | Tuesday, Dec 1 | 7:00 PM |
| Selection Day (final) | Sunday, Dec 6 | Noon-3 PM |
How the 12-Team Playoff Works
The 2026 College Football Playoff is a 12-team field. Five spots are automatic bids: the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, plus the highest-ranked champion from the Group of 5 (the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 or Sun Belt). The other seven spots are at-large, awarded to the next highest-ranked teams in the final rankings. Notre Dame is eligible as an at-large if it finishes in the top 12.
Seeding is straight off the final rankings: the top four seeds earn a first-round bye, and seeds 5 through 12 meet in first-round games before the quarterfinals move into the New Year’s bowls. For who is in the field right now, see our 2026 CFP and bowl projections, updated every week.
Printable 2026 CFP Rankings Tracker
Print the tracker and fill in the committee’s top 25 after each Tuesday reveal. The top 12 line is marked so you can watch the bubble move week to week.
Download the printable 2026 CFP rankings tracker (PDF)
Follow the bracket all season
- 2026 CFP and bowl projections
- the latest AP Top 25
- 2026 Top 25 Schedule Grid: every ranked team’s slate
- 2026 College Football Week 9 Schedule and TV
- 2026 College Football Schedule Hub (all teams)
We also drop a new College Football Playoff bracket short every week on our channels, built off the committee’s latest look.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the first 2026 CFP rankings come out?
Tuesday, November 3, at 7 PM ET on ESPN.
How often are the CFP rankings released?
Every Tuesday from November 3 through December 1, then the final 12-team field is revealed on Selection Day, Sunday, December 6.
How many teams make the College Football Playoff?
Twelve: five conference champions and seven at-large teams.
Do the top seeds get a bye?
Yes. The top four seeds earn a first-round bye; seeds 5 through 12 play first-round games.
Track the race: grab the printable 12-team CFP bracket sheet, follow live Top 25 scores, and check college football on TV today.
