The College Football Playoff selection committee released its second set of rankings on Friday, reflecting the outcomes of the Week 10 slate of games. The updated list shows significant movement at the top of the poll, with Georgia climbing to the No. 1 spot and Utah rising to No. 2.
Top Five Changes
Georgia entered the week at No. 2 and earned the top ranking after a dominant win over Ole Miss, a team that had been No. 10 in the initial poll. The Bulldogs’ performance convinced the committee to promote them ahead of Miami, which fell to No. 7 following a loss to Notre Dame.
Utah, previously ranked No. 3, moved up to No. 2 after the Utes defeated BYU in a high‑scoring Big 12 matchup, preserving their unbeaten record. Alabama held steady at No. 3, while UCLA remained at No. 4. Notre Dame, which entered the week at No. 11, jumped to No. 5 after a home victory over Miami.
Full Rankings
Below are the complete rankings released by the committee:
- 1. Georgia (8‑1)
- 2. Utah (9‑0)
- 3. Alabama (7‑2)
- 4. UCLA (9‑0)
- 5. Notre Dame (8‑1)
- 6. Texas (7‑2)
- 7. Miami (8‑1)
- 8. Tennessee (7‑2)
- 9. Indiana (8‑1)
- 10. BYU (7‑2)
- 11. Kentucky (7‑2)
- 12. Texas Tech (8‑1)
- 13. Wake Forest (8‑1)
- 14. Houston (7‑2)
- 15. Iowa (7‑2)
- 16. Oregon (6‑3)
- 17. South Carolina (6‑3)
- 18. USC (7‑2)
- 19. Ole Miss (6‑3)
- 20. Ohio State (6‑3)
- 21. LSU (6‑3)
- 22. Missouri (6‑3)
- 23. Arizona (7‑2)
- 24. Boise State (8‑1)
- 25. Oklahoma State (6‑3)
Hypothetical Playoff Bracket
The committee also posted a speculative playoff bracket based on the current rankings. The first‑round matchups would be:
- No. 24 Boise State at No. 5 Notre Dame
- No. 11 Kentucky at No. 6 Texas
- No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Miami
- No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee
Quarterfinal pairings would then see the winners of Kentucky/Texas face No. 3 Alabama, the BYU/Miami winner face No. 2 Utah, the Boise State/Notre Dame winner face No. 4 UCLA, and the Indiana/Tennessee winner face No. 1 Georgia. The semifinals would pit the winners of the first two quarterfinals against each other, and the winners of the latter two quarterfinals against each other.
Implications for the Playoff Race
Georgia’s ascent to the top spot solidifies its position as a leading contender for the four‑team playoff. Utah’s unbeaten record and rise to No. 2 keep the Utes firmly in the conversation. Alabama, UCLA and Notre Dame remain within striking distance, while Miami’s drop to No. 7 makes its path to the playoff more challenging.
Teams outside the top five will need to continue winning and hope for favorable outcomes in the remaining regular‑season games to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Original reporting: All Sports Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
