Notre Dame and Georgia position themselves for top spots after Week 10
Saturday's results force a major shakeup in the College Football Playoff rankings, with Miami dropping from No. 1 and Ohio State likely exiting the top 12.
By Aiko Soto ·
The College Football Playoff landscape shifts sharply this week following Saturday's slate of games. Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami, while Georgia beat Ole Miss, altering the hierarchy for the second CFP rankings announcement scheduled for Tuesday. These results determine which teams secure top seeds and which fall out of the contention for the national championship game.
Notre Dame's victory over Miami keeps the Irish in the playoff hunt, though their schedule keeps them from the top spot immediately. Miami remains the leading ACC contender for the conference title and a likely CFP participant, but its loss hurts its chances at a first-round bye. The committee will now decide how Notre Dame ranks relative to Indiana, the current No. 4 team. Georgia's win at Ole Miss strengthens its claim to the No. 1 ranking. The Bulldogs have the best path to the SEC title and can afford some mistakes, though they face Missouri and South Carolina in consecutive weeks.
Tennessee moves into the top 12 with its 26-10 win over Kentucky, bolstered by its earlier victory over Alabama. The Vols have little margin for error as they prepare to face Florida, Missouri, and Louisville. Ohio State, now with three losses after falling to Oregon, will likely drop out of the top 12. This result eliminates the Buckeyes from the Big Ten championship picture and reduces their odds of reaching the CFP as the conference champion.
Alabama and Texas solidify their status as the top two-loss teams in the country. Alabama's win over LSU and Texas's victories against top-25 opponents give both programs strong resumes. They may leapfrog Indiana in the upcoming rankings. LSU, also with three losses, must win its remaining games against Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas to stay in the conversation, a difficult task given its recent performance.
Utah remains unbeaten and on track for a top-four seed after defeating BYU. The Utes have a favorable schedule ending at home, while BYU's second loss threatens its top-12 status. UCLA's win over Minnesota keeps it in position to host a first-round game, though the committee views Utah as the superior team. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek noted that Utah plays better than UCLA when evaluated on tape.
The selection committee faces tight decisions as it weighs these results. Teams like Missouri and Ole Miss have slim chances without impressive wins against ranked opponents. The final rankings will reflect the strength of each team's resume, including victories over higher-ranked rivals and performance in conference play.
