The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its second rankings of the 2026 season on Tuesday, Nov. 10, placing Georgia at No. 1 and Utah at No. 2. The rankings, which reflect games played through Saturday, Nov. 7, saw Utah reach the highest position in program history while BYU dropped one spot to No. 10.
Georgia Ascends to No. 1
The second edition of the 2026 rankings features a new leader at the top. Georgia has ascended to the No. 1 position, moving up one spot from its previous ranking of No. 2. The Bulldogs' rise to the top follows a dominant win over Ole Miss, and the team currently holds an 8-1 record. This marks Georgia's 16th week at the No. 1 spot, the second-most all-time in the CFP era behind Alabama, which has held the top spot 24 times.
Utah Reaches Program High
Utah has climbed to the No. 2 spot in the nation, achieving the highest CFP ranking in the program's history. The Utes, who hold a perfect 9-0 record, were previously ranked No. 3. Despite their undefeated status, the selection committee's evaluation placed them behind Georgia, citing strength of schedule as a factor that kept them from the top spot. Utah's recent resume includes significant wins over BYU and Houston.
Historic Shifts in Rankings
The rankings highlight a significant shift for several programs. Notre Dame has made history as the first team to jump from outside the top 10 into the top 5 in a single week, moving from No. 11 to No. 5 after knocking off the No. 1 team. Meanwhile, UCLA has reached its highest-ever CFP ranking at No. 4, moving up from No. 8. Both Utah and UCLA remain the only two undefeated teams left in the FBS entering Week 11. This occurrence—two undefeated teams in the second ranking of a season—matches the fewest in CFP history, a record set in 2014.
BYU and Other Notable Changes
BYU has dropped one spot to No. 10 following a loss to the undefeated Utah team. Despite the drop, the Cougars maintain a 7-2 record and a strong resume bolstered by a victory over Notre Dame. Other notable movements include Alabama moving into the top three at No. 3 with a 7-2 record, and Tennessee rising five spots from No. 13 to No. 8. Conversely, Miami fell six spots from No. 1 to No. 7 after a loss to Notre Dame, and Indiana dropped five spots from No. 4 to No. 9 following a bye.
Playoff Bracket Projections
Under the current 12-team bracket format, the top four teams—Georgia, Utah, Alabama, and UCLA—earn a first-round bye regardless of whether they win their respective conference championships. The remaining seeds from 5 through 12 will compete in the first round, with higher-seeded teams hosting at campus sites. Currently, the highest-ranked Group of Six team is No. 24 Boise State, which would be projected as the No. 12 seed in the bracket. The two teams currently projected to be the first out of the 12-team playoff are No. 12 Texas Tech and No. 13 Wake Forest.
Conference Strength and Evaluation
The conference breakdown of the top 25 shows the SEC leading with nine teams, followed by the Big Ten and the Big 12, both with six teams. The ACC has two teams, while the Pac-12 is represented by Boise State. Notre Dame remains the lone Independent in the rankings. The selection committee evaluates teams based on a comprehensive profile including video, data via a customized portal, and conference input. When comparing similar teams, the committee applies principles such as strength of schedule, head-to-head results, results against common opponents, and other relevant factors like injuries or coach unavailability.
Upcoming Schedule and Meetings
Looking ahead to Week 11, several high-profile matchups are scheduled. These include No. 2 Utah against No. 23 Arizona, No. 6 Texas against No. 21 LSU, and No. 18 Southern California against No. 9 Indiana. The CFP Selection Committee is scheduled to meet again on November 16-17, with the third set of rankings expected to be released on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at approximately 9 p.m. ET.
