ATHENS, Ga. — The College Football Playoff committee released its first rankings for the 2026 season on Tuesday night.
The committee ranked the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 2. If the 12-team playoffs were to start today, the Bulldogs would get a first-round bye and move directly to the quarterfinals.
Here’s the complete top 25:
- Miami
- Georgia
- Utah
- Indiana
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Texas
- UCLA
- BYU
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Texas Tech
- Wake Forest
- Houston
- Missouri
- Iowa
- Southern California
- South Carolina
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Florida
- Boise State
No. 2 Georgia plays No. # 10 Ole Miss in primetime Saturday night on Channel 2. The SEC on ABC game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
HOW MANY TEAMS MAKE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF?
12 teams.
The CFP uses a “straight seeding” model and places the teams on the same line in the bracket as their ranking. The Power 4 conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, along with the highest-ranked champion from the Group of 6 conferences.
The remaining seven spots are at-large bids. That means the top 12 in the CFP rankings won’t necessarily be the 12 teams that make the playoff.
ISN’T THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF EXPANDING?
Not this year, but it’s more than likely the College Football Playoff will expand to 24 teams.
The Associated Press reports that College Football Playoff and broadcast partner ESPN have a “handshake agreement” to air a 24-team playoff.
WHEN WILL THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIELD BE DECIDED?
The CFP committee will release rankings every Tuesday night leading up to conference championship weekend.
The playoff field will be unveiled on Sun, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m.
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