College Football Playoff Rankings Week 11: Georgia No. 1, Indiana Drops to No. 9
The College Football Playoff rankings Week 11 brought a new No. 1, a historic high for UCLA, and a surprising five-spot fall for defending champion Indiana. The selection committee released its second set of rankings on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and the shakeup at the top sets up a huge weekend of ranked games.
Georgia moved up to No. 1 after a dominant road win over Ole Miss, while Miami dropped from the top spot after losing 31-24 at Notre Dame. Utah stayed unbeaten at No. 2, Alabama moved to No. 3, and UCLA climbed to No. 4, the highest ranking in program history.
Quick answer: Georgia is the new No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings Week 11, released Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Utah is No. 2, Alabama is No. 3, and UCLA is No. 4. Defending champion Indiana fell five spots to No. 9 after a bye week, and Miami dropped from No. 1 after a 31-24 loss at Notre Dame.
Georgia Takes Over at No. 1
Georgia (8-1) rose from No. 2 to No. 1 after its dominant road win over Ole Miss. The Bulldogs now control the top of the rankings with three weeks left before the final field is set. Georgia also headlines the Week 11 schedule, hosting No. 22 Missouri in a game that could test the new No. 1 at home.
The move to the top was made possible by Miami's loss. Miami entered the week at No. 1 but fell 31-24 at Notre Dame, and the Hurricanes dropped to No. 7. Notre Dame climbed to No. 5 after the win. For full details on that result, read our report on Miami losing 31-24 at Notre Dame as Georgia took over at No. 1.
Utah, Alabama and UCLA Round Out the Top Four
Utah (9-0) stayed at No. 2 and remains one of two unbeaten teams in the top four. Alabama (7-2) is No. 3, and UCLA (9-0) is No. 4, the highest CFP ranking ever for the Bruins. UCLA's previous best was No. 8.
If the season ended today, the top four seeds with first-round byes would be Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA. That would give each of those teams a week off before the quarterfinals, a major advantage in a 12-team field.
Indiana Drops Five Spots Despite a Bye Week
The biggest surprise of the week was Indiana. The defending champions dropped five spots, from No. 4 to No. 9, despite having a bye week. Indiana is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten play, so the fall was not caused by a loss. Instead, eight of the Hoosiers' nine opponents lost last week, which hurt their strength of schedule.
The timing could hardly be tougher for Indiana. The Hoosiers return to action in Week 11 against No. 18 USC on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. A win over a ranked opponent would be the perfect response, while a loss would put Indiana's playoff hopes in serious trouble. Our College Football Week 11 preview breaks down the full weekend slate, and you can also check the full schedule, tickets and coverage for the ranked games.
Full College Football Playoff Top 25
1. Georgia (8-1)
2. Utah (9-0)
3. Alabama (7-2)
4. UCLA (9-0)
5. Notre Dame
6. Texas (7-2)
7. Miami (FL)
8. Tennessee
9. Indiana (8-1)
10. BYU
11. Kentucky
12. Texas Tech
13. Wake Forest
14. Houston
15. Iowa
16. Oregon
17. South Carolina
18. USC
19. Ole Miss
20. Ohio State
21. LSU
22. Missouri
23. Arizona
24. Boise State
25. Oklahoma State
The SEC dominates the rankings. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 25, and five SEC teams are projected in the 12-team field: Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky. That depth means SEC results will keep shaping the playoff race right through championship weekend. The AP poll told a similar story this week, as our report on the AP Top 25 Week 11 shows.
What Week 11 Means for the Playoff Race
Two ranked vs ranked games headline Week 11. No. 18 USC visits No. 9 Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, and No. 22 Missouri travels to No. 1 Georgia. Both games carry direct playoff stakes.
For Indiana, the USC game is a chance to answer the committee's doubts in the most direct way possible: by beating a ranked team at home. For Georgia, the Missouri game is a chance to show that the No. 1 ranking is deserved and to keep hold of the top seed.
The rankings will keep changing every Tuesday until the field is set. The next rankings release is Tuesday, November 17, from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The 12-team playoff field will be finalized on Sunday, December 6, after conference championship weekend.
Until then, the message from the committee is clear. Wins over strong opponents matter, strength of schedule matters, and even a bye week can cost a team if the teams it has already beaten keep losing. Indiana learned that lesson the hard way this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings Week 11?
Georgia is No. 1. The Bulldogs (8-1) rose from No. 2 after a dominant road win over Ole Miss, taking over after Miami lost 31-24 at Notre Dame.
Why did Indiana drop to No. 9 in the CFP rankings?
Indiana fell five spots, from No. 4 to No. 9, despite a bye week. Eight of the Hoosiers' nine opponents lost last week, which hurt their strength of schedule. Indiana is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten play.
Which teams would get first-round byes if the season ended today?
Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA would be the top four seeds and would receive first-round byes in the 12-team playoff field.
When are the next College Football Playoff rankings released?
The next rankings release is Tuesday, November 17, from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
When will the 12-team playoff field be finalized?
The 12-team playoff field will be finalized on Sunday, December 6, after conference championship weekend.
Related
College Football Week 11 Preview: November 14, 2026
AP Top 25 Week 11: Georgia No. 1, Utah, Ohio State 21
Miami Loses to Notre Dame 31-24 as Georgia Becomes New No. 1
Comments
Post a Comment