Skip to main content
SI

College Football Playoff Rankings: Live Updates, Analysis As Selection Committee Prepares to Crown New No. 1

After Miami’s dramatic loss at Notre Dame, a new No. 1-ranked team is set to emerge as the selection committee releases its second Top 25 of the season.
SI Staff|
After a dominant win over Mississippi, Georgia is the favorite to take over as the nation’s top team when the College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled.
After a dominant win over Mississippi, Georgia is the favorite to take over as the nation’s top team when the College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In this story:

Utah UtesMiami (FL) HurricanesGeorgia BulldogsIndiana HoosiersAlabama Crimson TideKentucky WildcatsTexas LonghornsUCLA BruinsBYU CougarsOle Miss RebelsNotre Dame Fighting IrishOhio State BuckeyesTennessee VolunteersLSU TigersTexas Tech Red RaidersWake Forest Demon DeaconsHouston CougarsMissouri TigersIowa HawkeyesUSC TrojansSouth Carolina GamecocksArizona WildcatsOregon DucksFlorida GatorsBoise State Broncos

Week 10 of the college football season promised to be a huge one, and it didn’t fail to impact the College Football Playoff race.

One of the best games of the weekend took place in South Bend, with No. 11 Notre Dame hanging on to hand No. 1 Miami its first loss of the season, 31–24. With that result, a new No. 1 is set to take over the top spot in the season’s second set of CFP selection committee rankings.

The Canes weren’t the only notable team in the playoff mix to drop a game. No. 6 Kentucky suffered its second loss, taking one on the chin against No. 13 Tennessee, 34–6. No. 12 Ohio State, which entered the weekend one spot outside of the 12-team field (with No. 25 Boise State in line for the final bid), is expected to be well outside of it now, after falling to No. 23 Oregon, 41–28.

The big winners of the weekend include No. 2 Georgia (beat No. 10 Ole Miss, 42–7), No. 3 Utah (won the Holy War against No. 9 BYU, 28–20) and No. 5 Alabama (toppled No. 14 LSU, 31–13). The Crimson Tide were among the most derided teams in the rankings a week ago, but backed up the number next to their name by drubbing Lane Kiffin’s Tigers.

The rankings will be released on ESPN at approximately 9 p.m. ET, following the Duke vs. Michigan State men’s college basketball game, and ahead of the game between Kansas and Kentucky. Follow along below as the rankings are unveiled for live updates and analysis from Sports Illustrated’s college football staff.

Live updates, analysis, reaction to the updated College Football Playoff Top 25

College Football Playoff selection committee Top 25 as of Nov. 3

Check back here for the updated rankings after they are released on Tuesday night.

1. Miami
2. Georgia
3. Utah
4. Indiana
5. Alabama
6. Kentucky
7. Texas
8. UCLA
9. BYU
10. Ole Miss
11. Notre Dame
12. Ohio State
13. Tennessee
14. LSU
15. Texas Tech
16. Wake Forest
17. Houston
18. Missouri
19. Iowa
20. USC
21. South Carolina
22. Arizona
23. Oregon
24. Florida
25. Boise State

College Football Bracket Challenge

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

How the 12-team playoff field is determined

The 12-team College Football Playoff, which is in its final season, has been tweaked each year since its inception in 2024. Here’s how the field will be chosen this season:

  • The Power 4 conference champions (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) receive automatic bids.
  • The highest-ranked Group of 6 (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, Sun Belt) program, regardless of conference champion status, receives a bid.
  • Seven at-large programs fill out the field.
  • Notre Dame receives an automatic bid if it finishes within the top 12 of the final rankings.

The top four teams in the field receive byes, regardless of conference champion status.

CFP selection committee members

  • Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas athletic director (committee chair)
  • Troy Dannen, Nebraska athletic director
  • Mark Dantonio, former Michigan State, Cincinnati coach
  • Doug Gillin, Appalachian State athletic director
  • Mark Harlan, Utah athletic director
  • Ivan Maisel, former sports writer at SI, ESPN, other outlets
  • Gus Malzahn, former Auburn, UCF, Arkansas State coach
  • Chris Massaro, Middle Tennessee State athletic director
  • Randall McDaniel, former Arizona State All-American offensive lineman
  • Mike Riley, former Oregon State, Nebraska coach
  • Jeff Tedford, former Cal, Fresno State coach
  • Wesley Walls, former Mississippi All-American tight end
  • Carla Williams, Virginia athletic director

Members are not permitted to discuss any programs with which they have a conflict of interest, and cannot vote on those programs.

PODCAST: Listen to Sports Illustrated’s college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, hosted by Pat Forde, on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s college YouTube channel or on SI TV.

Add us as a preferred source on Google
Published | Modified
Gilberto Manzano
SI STAFF

Home/College Football