Exploring Miami's path in the inaugural 2026 College Football Playoff rankings

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Exploring Miami's path in the inaugural 2026 College Football Playoff rankings

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Nov 4, 2026 12:32 AM ET

The Miami Hurricanes are No. 1 in the inaugural 2026 College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night. Miami, No. 3 Utah and No. 8 UCLA are the only undefeated teams remaining in college football.

The top 11 teams are relevant in the CFP rankings, with the highest-ranked Group of Six teams guaranteed a CFP berth. Georgia is second, Indiana fourth, Alabama fifth, Kentucky sixth, Texas seventh, BYU ninth, Mississippi 10th and Notre Dame 11th. Boise State is the highest-ranked Group of Six team at 25.

Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, BYU and Notre Dame are the only teams in the top 11 with one loss. The other teams all have two losses. Ohio State, Tennessee and LSU, with two losses each, sit just outside the top 11. LSU is at Tennessee on Nov. 21 in what should be a de facto elimination game.

As the top-ranked team in the College Football Playoff rankings, Miami would receive a first-round bye. The Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl are the CFP quarterfinals this season. Miami would likely play in the Peach Bowl.

Here is what the College Football Playoff bracket would look like based on the initial CFP Rankings: pic.twitter.com/NXsVhWTXOK
— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 4, 2026

Miami's projected CFP path

The winner of No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 9 BYU would play Miami. Miami would project to have a huge home-field advantage over BYU or UCLA if the game were in Atlanta. Boise State would be at Alabama in the other half of Miami's bracket, with the winner playing Indiana.

The Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl are hosting the CFP semifinals this season. Miami could potentially get a chance to rematch Indiana in the semifinals, with the game at Hard Rock Stadium for the second consecutive year.

The other half of the CFP bracket would have Kentucky hosting Notre Dame, with the winner playing Utah in one quarterfinal. An all-SEC quarter of the bracket has Mississippi at Texas, with the winner playing Georgia. That quarter would likely be in the Cotton Bowl, with the winners advancing to the Peach Bowl.

Alan Rubenstein

More must-reads: