The first College Football Playoff rankings released on November 7, 2026, show significant movement in the race for the 12-team playoff field. The projections include five SEC teams and feature notable shifts for programs such as Alabama, Utah, and UCLA.
Alabama secured the No. 5 spot in the rankings following an impressive 31-13 victory over LSU in Death Valley. This win, according to the report, validates the committee's prior assessments of the Crimson Tide. Meanwhile, Utah cemented a position within the top three of the CFP rankings after a 28-20 win over BYU in the Holy War. UCLA, ranked at No. 8, remains undefeated following a 34-20 victory over Minnesota.
The rankings also reflect challenges for other major programs. Ohio State fell to No. 12 after a 41-28 loss to Oregon in The Shoe. Notre Dame is ranked at No. 11 and faces a must-win game against top-ranked Miami. Regarding the volatility of the rankings, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman stated on Saturday that current rankings do not indicate what the standings will be in a couple of weeks, advising observers to focus on the end of the season instead.
Other key results from the week include Texas' 34-20 road win over Missouri and Arizona's 29-28 victory over TCU on Friday. The projected first-round matchups include Boise State at No. 5 UCLA, No. 11 Ohio State at No. 6 Indiana, No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Texas, and No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 Kentucky.
The next College Football Playoff rankings are scheduled to be released starting at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
