CFP Rankings Shakeup: Georgia Reclaims No. 1, Bama Rises, and ‘New Bloods’ Crash the Top Four

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its second official rankings on Tuesday night, delivering a massive mid-November jolt to the postseason picture. With former top-ranked Miami stumbling on the road in South Bend, the Georgia Bulldogs have surged back to the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, the committee signaled that blue-blood pedigree and head-to-head strength of schedule still reign supreme in the 12-team era—sparks fly across the board as classic powers and new contenders collide.

There are some questions about placements, and of course, one of the conference champs will get eliminated by the current process.

Georgia Claims Top Spot, Alabama Jumps to No. 3

Georgia (8-1) reclaimed the committee’s top ranking following a dominant 42-7 road statement over Ole Miss. Head coach Kirby Smart’s squad was fueled by quarterback Gunner Stockton, who threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Trevor Etienne added two scores on the ground. Defensive back Malaki Starks anchored a defense that held the Rebels to just 210 total yards, shutting down explosive plays downfield.

However, the headline grabber in the top four is Alabama (7-2), which vaulted to No. 3 after a physically punishing 31-13 victory over LSU. Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson tossed two second-half touchdown passes, while linebacker Jihaad Campbell turned the tide with a game-breaking third-quarter strip-sack on LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier that set up Alabama’s go-ahead touchdown.

The Tide’s ascent makes history as the earliest a two-loss team has crashed the CFP Top 4. Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek cited Alabama’s brutal strength of schedule and top-tier victories as the main driver behind their leap.

Why Is Alabama Ahead of Tennessee? The Head-to-Head Dilemma

The most fiercely debated placement of the night centers on the Tennessee Volunteers (7-2), who sit at No. 8 despite having defeated Alabama earlier this season.

While head coach Josh Heupel’s Volunteers vaulted five spots from No. 13 to No. 8 following a 34-6 second-half shutout over Kentucky—powered by running back Dylan Sampson’s 142 rushing yards and quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s three touchdown passes—the committee placed Alabama five spots higher.

The committee defended its valuation by emphasizing total résumé strength over a single head-to-head result. Alabama holds multiple top-25 wins, whereas Tennessee’s stumbles against South Carolina and Kentucky earlier in the fall drag down their secondary analytics. Nonetheless, being positioned at No. 8 puts Tennessee comfortably inside the initial 12-team field with clear opportunities ahead.

Miami Falls to 7, Indiana Plummets to 9

Previous No. 1 Miami (8-1) suffered a devastating 31-24 road defeat against Notre Dame in South Bend, dropping six spots down to No. 7. Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr delivered the game-breaking moment, connecting with receiver Jaden Greathouse on a 48-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to break a 24-24 tie. Despite Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward passing for 312 yards, two costly turnovers cost Miami their undefeated record and top ranking.

The Indiana Hoosiers (8-1) suffered a surprising drop from No. 4 to No. 9 despite enjoying a bye week. Lacking top-25 victories on their record, Indiana became a casualty of the committee’s late-season adjustments as Notre Dame, Texas, and Tennessee leapfrogged them based on stronger strength-of-schedule wins over the weekend.

Bracket Implications: Boise State In, Texas Tech Out

Because the four highest-ranked conference champions earn first-round byes in the 12-team CFP bracket, the actual seeded field differs significantly from the raw Top 25 rankings:

Boise State (8-1): Ranked No. 24 in the CFP poll, the Broncos hold the coveted No. 12 seed in the projected playoff bracket as the highest-ranked Group of Six projected champion. Running back Ashton Jeanty continues to lead the national narrative, powering Boise State’s quest for an automatic postseason berth.

Texas Tech (8-1): Despite holding an 8-1 record and sitting at No. 12 in the rankings after a thrilling 53-48 shootout victory over West Virginia, the Red Raiders are currently projected as the first team out of the 12-team field. Because Boise State takes the 12th seed as a G6 automatic qualifier, Texas Tech falls just outside the cutline behind Big 12 rival BYU (No. 10).

November 🔟 #CFP Top 25 🏆 https://t.co/20Ptc8fecD

— CFP (@CFBPlayoff) November 11, 2026

New Bloods Rising: Undefeated UCLA and Utah Reach Top Four

For the first time in CFP history, traditional West Coast powers Utah (9-0) and UCLA (9-0) hold top-four spots simultaneously.

• No. 2 Utah Utes: Kyle Whittingham’s Utes earned their highest CFP ranking in program history after a 28-20 victory over rival BYU. Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson threw for 220 yards and scored two total touchdowns, while safety Tao Johnson sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone.
• No. 4 UCLA Bruins: DeShaun Foster’s Bruins continued their fairy-tale undefeated season, rising to No. 4 following a 34-20 win over Minnesota. UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers lit up the secondary for 305 yards and three touchdowns, while wideout J.Michael Sturdivant caught seven passes for 118 yards and two scores.

As two of the FBS’s only remaining undefeated teams entering Week 11, both Utah and UCLA currently hold projected first-round playoff byes. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff race has never been more unpredictable.