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Miami gets historic No. 1 spot as Alabama nabs surprise top-five ranking in first CFP reveal
Undefeated Miami earned the top spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings, a historic first for the programme, while Alabama’s surprise fifth-place position and several other placements prompted questions about the committee’s choices. The rankings matter because they offer the first indication of how the committee is weighing results and schedules as teams compete for places in the playoff.
Georgia ranked second and undefeated Utah third; defending champion Indiana was fourth, despite beating Ohio State, which was ranked 12th after two losses. Notre Dame sat 11th, with the committee citing a lack of a standout win, and faces Miami on Saturday. The SEC had 10 teams in the top 25, including six with two losses; the committee’s six weekly rankings will culminate in the bracket announcement on 6 December.
In short
- Miami topped the first CFP rankings for the first time.
- Alabama was ranked fifth despite having two losses.
- Notre Dame must beat Miami to strengthen its playoff case.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The committee’s early rankings can be defended as an attempt to assess teams’ overall résumés, including schedule strength and quality wins, rather than simply rewarding undefeated records. Alabama’s fifth-place position and Georgia’s second-place ranking may reflect the committee’s view that their opponents and performances merit strong consideration, while the remaining weekly rankings allow teams to strengthen their cases.
The case against
The rankings can be criticised for appearing inconsistent: undefeated Miami and Utah were placed below or alongside teams with losses, while Indiana’s win over Ohio State did not prevent Ohio State from falling to 12th. With 10 SEC teams included, including several with two losses, sceptics may question whether the committee is applying comparable standards across conferences and whether its choices are sufficiently transparent.
Explained simply
The College Football Playoff decides which teams compete for the US college football national championship. A selection committee ranks teams during the season, weighing their results and the strength of the opponents they have faced; the rankings help determine who reaches the playoff.
Miami, Georgia, Utah and Indiana are among the teams competing for places, while Alabama and Notre Dame are also in the mix. Teams play in conferences, such as the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and their records and schedules are part of the committee’s assessment.
The committee publishes six sets of rankings before announcing the playoff bracket on 6 December. Its choices matter because only a limited number of teams can qualify, and the rankings offer a view of how it is comparing teams with different results and opponents.
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