Miami Predicted to Top First 2026 CFP Rankings at 8-0 as Kentucky Jumps to No. 3
Updated
Updated · NCAA.com · Nov 1
Miami Predicted to Top First 2026 CFP Rankings at 8-0 as Kentucky Jumps to No. 3
3 articles · Updated · NCAA.com · Nov 1
Summary
Miami is projected to open at No. 1 in the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings on Nov. 3, with its 8-0 record and win over Wake Forest seen as enough to overcome a No. 49 strength of schedule.
Georgia is forecast at No. 2 after routing Florida, while 7-1 Kentucky is the predicted surprise at No. 3 because it pairs a top-10 strength of schedule with the nation’s No. 2 strength of record.
Utah and UCLA round out the top five in the projection, both unbeaten at 8-0, as the analyst says the committee will reward Utah’s top-15 win and UCLA’s road victory at Oregon.
The projected top 10 also includes BYU, Indiana, Notre Dame, Alabama and Texas, while Ohio State is expected to fall out of the top 10 after losing its first game without quarterback Julian Sayin.
Further down, the analyst predicts 10 SEC teams in the initial top 25 and says the first rankings could clarify how the committee values unbeaten teams, two-loss contenders and the Group of Six auto-bid race.