The College Football Playoff selection committee’s latest rankings reveal significant shifts after a decisive Week 10, following the release of the first set of rankings that sparked controversy and set the stage for a key week of games. Georgia climbed to the top spot, overtaking Miami, after a dominant win over Ole Miss, who were initially ranked at No. 10.
The Bulldogs’ victory propelled them from No. 2 to No. 1, while Miami’s loss to Notre Dame dropped them to No. 7. Utah secured the No. 2 position after defeating BYU in a key Big 12 matchup, maintaining their undefeated 9-0 record. This win not only solidified their standing but also marked a significant rise in the rankings.
Notre Dame made a notable leap from No. 11 to No. 5 after their win against Miami, a victory that was critical for their playoff aspirations. With upcoming games against unranked opponents, the Fighting Irish are now well-positioned for a playoff berth, having successfully completed the committee’s assignment to beat Miami.
The rankings also placed Alabama at No. 3 and UCLA at No. 4, completing the top five. Ole Miss and Ohio State experienced significant drops, falling nine and eight spots, respectively, after their losses to Georgia and USC. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State debuted at No. 25, marking their first appearance in the rankings this season.
In the first round, No. 24 Boise State would face No. 5 Notre Dame, while No. 11 Kentucky takes on No. 6 Texas, and No. 10 BYU challenges No. 7 Miami. The updated rankings set the stage for a hypothetical College Football Playoff bracket. The bracket also includes No. 9 Indiana against No. 8 Tennessee.
The quarterfinals feature the winners of these matches against the top seeds: the Kentucky/Texas winner vs. No. 3 Alabama, the BYU/Miami winner vs. No. 2 Utah, the Boise State/Notre Dame winner vs. No. 4 UCLA, and the Indiana/Tennessee winner vs. No. 1 Georgia. The semifinals would then pair the winners of the first two quarterfinal games against each other, and the winners of the last two quarterfinal games against each other, determining the final matchups for the championship.