Georgia has ascended to the No. 1 spot in the second edition of the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings following a dominant 42-7 victory over Ole Miss, according to the selection committee. The Bulldogs (8-1) climbed from No. 2 to the top position, while the undefeated Utah Utes (9-0) rose to a program-record No. 2 following a 28-20 win over the BYU Cougars.
Georgia Takes Top Spot
The selection committee released its second of six rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. Georgia's ascent to the top spot comes after a performance described by selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek as "dominating." Yurachek noted the Bulldogs' performance in Oxford, Miss., showed the team functioning with the defensive and offensive cohesion the committee has observed all year, specifically highlighting the role of Gunner Stockton on offense.
Major Shifts in Rankings
The Bulldogs' victory over Ole Miss resulted in a significant drop for the Rebels, who fell from No. 10 to No. 19. Meanwhile, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish made one of the most significant moves of the week, climbing from No. 11 to No. 5 after defeating No. 1 Miami (FL). This jump makes Notre Dame the first team in rankings history to move from outside the Top 10 into the Top 5 in a single week, according to Yurachek.
Utah Reaches Program Record
The undefeated Utah Utes climbed from No. 3 to No. 2, a program record, following their 28-20 victory over the BYU Cougars (7-2). While the Utes remain undefeated, the committee noted their strength of schedule has prevented them from taking the top spot. The Cougars, who fell from No. 9 to No. 10, still maintain a strong resume, including a victory over Notre Dame.
Notable Program Movements
The rankings saw significant movement for several other programs. The UCLA Bruins (9-0) climbed from No. 8 to a program-best No. 4 following a 34-20 win over Minnesota. Alabama (7-2) jumped from No. 5 to No. 3 after defeating LSU (6-3). In contrast, Ohio State (6-3) suffered its lowest ranking in history, dropping from No. 12 to No. 20 following a 41-28 loss to Oregon. The Oregon Ducks (6-3) climbed seven spots from No. 23 to No. 16.
Projected Playoff Bracket
The current rankings project a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. Under the current format, the top four teams—Georgia, Utah, Alabama, and UCLA—earn first-round byes into the quarterfinals regardless of conference championship outcomes. The remaining eight slots in the first round will feature matchups such as No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Miami (Fla.).
Upcoming CFP Schedule
The selection committee will release the third edition of the rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026. The fourth and fifth editions are scheduled for Nov. 24 and Dec. 1, respectively. The final official rankings and bracket will be revealed on Sunday, Dec. 6, leading into the first round of the playoffs which is scheduled to begin on Friday, Dec. 18.
Conference Representation Overview
The conference breakdown of the Top 25 shows the SEC with the most representatives, totaling nine teams. The Big Ten and the Big 12 follow with six teams each. The ACC has two teams, while the Independent category includes Notre Dame. Boise State represents the Pac-12 as the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, projected as the No. 12 seed in the current bracket.
