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College Football Playoff bracket: What 12-team field would look like after first 2026 CFP rankings
Confirmed
In Short: The first 2026-27 College Football Playoff rankings were released, with Miami leading as one of three undefeated teams.
The first 2026-27 College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled on Tuesday night, setting the stage for the final month of the season.
Miami Hurricanes led the rankings as one of only three undefeated teams remaining in the sport, according to CBS Sports.
Notre Dame projects as the 11-seed, the last team into the playoff field, while powerhouse Ohio State is the first team out at No. 13.
The SEC received a significant boost in contenders compared to the AP Top 25, with Alabama currently the highest-ranked two-loss team at No. 12.
Utah, currently undefeated at 8-0, is in the same position in the CFP rankings as the Week 9 AP Top 25 poll.
BYU, at 7-2, could shift its focus towards an at-large playoff bid if it loses to Utah.
The committee has weekly Tuesday rankings until the final bracket and top 25 are revealed on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Hunter Yurachek, CFP committee chair and athletic director for Arkansas, noted, 'They are a very good football team,' referring to Miami.
The 2026 College Football Playoff will feature 12 teams, with the format set to expand to 24 teams next season.
Tennessee Vols came in at No. 21 in the latest CFP rankings despite their 28-point loss to Georgia this past weekend.
What this adds
The rankings reflect the ongoing chaos in the playoff race, with several key games set to determine the final standings.
The expansion to a 24-team playoff next season is expected to increase the number of teams with a chance to compete for the national championship.
Background
As the college football season approaches its final month, the playoff race remains chaotic, with several key games set to determine the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings and conference championships.
Week 8 upsets have reshuffled the College Football Playoff and conference championship races.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is an annual single-elimination tournament held to determine a national champion for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of college football competition in the United States. It culminates in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
What's confirmed
- Here is a look at how the College Football playoff bracket looks after the first CFP Rankings release of the 2026 season.
What's still developing
- If the Utes can pull out a win and improve to 9-0, they'd gain even more control over the rest of the conference while BYU could begin shifting its focus towards contending for one of the at-large playoff bids.
- With the 12-team playoff format entering its third year, plenty of schools remain hopeful of contending for a CFP berth heading into Week 10.
- Still, there are several key matchups that could drastically affect teams looking to avoid being eliminated from the postseason bracket.
- 12, nudged out for top Group of Six championship No.
- However, the most interesting part of the bracket comes at the end.
- 4 Indiana from the Big Ten as the four first-round byes in the College Football Playoff.
- Miami (FL) Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) scores as North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Derek McDonald (15) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. (Bob Donnan-Imagn Images) "They are a very good football team," CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek, who serves as athletic director for Arkansas, said during ESPN’s rankings show.
- Alabama is currently the highest ranked two-loss team in the most recent Associated Press poll, coming in at No.
- Your 12-team College Football Playoff bracket builds live — view it any time under Standings → Playoff, and use Reset to start a fresh scenario.
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