Georgia Leads CFP Rankings as Alabama Rises to No. 3

The College Football Playoff selection committee ranked Georgia No. 1 and Alabama No. 3 in its second 2026 poll, putting the two-loss Crimson Tide ahead of undefeated UCLA and Tennessee, which beat Alabama earlier in the season.

Georgia moved up from No. 2 after a 42-7 win over Ole Miss. Utah, also unbeaten, ranked second. Alabama rose two places after beating LSU 31-13, while UCLA climbed four places to fourth. Notre Dame, which defeated previously top-ranked Miami 31-24, rose from No. 11 to fifth; Miami fell to seventh.

The ranking marks the earliest point in a season that a two-loss team has appeared in the committee’s top four, according to reports on the list. Alabama was 7-2. Under the current 12-team playoff format, the top four teams would receive first-round byes if the season ended with these rankings.

Committee chair Hunter Yurachek defended Alabama’s position, citing its schedule, record strength and four quality wins. He said the committee continued to count Alabama’s win over Mississippi State as a quality victory because of Mississippi State’s standing at the time. Alabama also had victories over South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU among its reported wins against...