Georgia surged to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff Rankings after the second release of the 2026 season, reshaping the 12-team bracket. Alabama moved to No. 3, UCLA to No. 4, giving the Bulldogs, Utes, Tide, and Bruins the four projected first-round byes.
Notre Dame surges into hosting position
Notre Dame jumped from the last at-large spot to No. 5 after beating then-No. 1 Miami, becoming a first-round host against projected 12-seed Boise State. The Fighting Irish would face No. 4 UCLA in the second round before a potential matchup with top-seeded Georgia.
Indiana drops despite bye week
Indiana, the reigning national champion, dropped five spots to No. 9 despite a bye week, falling from a first-round bye to not hosting a playoff game. The Hoosiers would face a road game at No. 8 Tennessee before a likely second-round meeting with Georgia.
Big 12 improves positioning
The Big 12 Conference improved its standing with No. 10 BYU remaining ranked after a loss to Utah, while No. 12 Texas Tech sits as the first team out and No. 14 Houston within striking distance. The conference has yet to produce an at-large CFP team in the 12-team era.
