Miami No. 1 in First 2026 College Football Playoff Rankings; Georgia, Utah and Indiana in Top Four

The first concrete College Football Playoff picture of the 2026 season is here, and Miami sits at the top.

The CFP selection committee released its first of six rankings on Nov. 3, 2026, with Miami at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Utah and Indiana, according to NCAA.com. Those are the committee’s rankings — the list that ultimately determines the playoff field and seeding — not the AP Top 25 or the Coaches Poll.

The opening top four matters immediately because, under the 2026 playoff format, the top four seeds receive first-round byes regardless of conference championship status. If the playoff began now, NCAA.com’s projected bracket would place Miami, Georgia, Utah and Indiana in those four bye spots.

The rest of the committee’s top 12 were Alabama at No. 5, Kentucky at No. 6, Texas at No. 7, UCLA at No. 8, BYU at No. 9, Ole Miss at No. 10, Notre Dame at No. 11 and Ohio State at No. 12.

One team outside the top 12 also carried unusual significance. Boise State, ranked No. 25 at 7-1, was the highest-ranked Group-of-Six team and therefore slotted by NCAA.com into the projected bracket as the No. 12 seed and the automatic G6 representative. The 2026 format guarantees a place for the highest-ranked team from that group, which is why Boise State remains relevant despite sitting at the bottom of the Top 25.

Indiana’s place at No. 4 stands out for another reason: the Hoosiers are the defending national champion. Indiana beat Miami 27-21 in the 2025 CFP title game on Jan. 19, 2026, giving this first set of rankings an early rematch feel at the top of the sport.

NCAA.com also noted that only three undefeated FBS teams remained at the time of the rankings release: Miami, Utah and UCLA. Miami and Utah both opened inside the top four, while UCLA checked in at No. 8.

The committee’s rankings are based on more than record alone. “The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable,” according to College Football Playoff official materials.

The rankings also offered an early snapshot of conference depth. The SEC placed 10 teams in the Top 25, the most of any conference, though the headliners were spread across the national map, with Miami, Utah and Indiana joining Georgia in the top four.

There will be little time for the order to sit still. This week’s schedule includes several games involving teams already in the committee’s rankings, including No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 2 Georgia at No. 10 Ole Miss, and No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah.

Those matchups will shape the next edition of the rankings as the weekly releases continue through early December. For now, the committee’s first read on the season places Miami in front, Georgia close behind, and Utah and reigning champion Indiana holding the other two bye positions in the playoff race.