Miami leads first College Football Playoff rankings as SEC claims 10 spots

Miami opened at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff selection committee's first rankings, released Tuesday, Nov. 3, placing the unbeaten Hurricanes ahead of Georgia with just over a month remaining before the final bracket is chosen. Utah was third, defending national champion Indiana fourth and Alabama fifth. The SEC accounted for 10 of the 25 ranked teams, including five in the top 10.

The Hurricanes are 8-0 overall and 6-0 in ACC play as they pursue a second consecutive appearance in the national championship game. Their record includes a victory over ranked Wake Forest, and their only remaining regular-season opponent currently in the top 25 is Notre Dame, which hosts Miami on Nov. 7. Georgia, at 7-1, has beaten two ranked opponents and has three more on its schedule.

An opening No. 1 ranking has generally been a strong indicator of playoff qualification: nine of the previous 12 teams to hold that position ultimately made the field. The current 12-team format is in its third season. Based on Tuesday's standings, Miami, Georgia, Utah and Indiana would receive first-round byes. Boise State, ranked 25th, would claim the final berth under the provision awarding automatic places to the five highest-ranked conference champions.

Notre Dame sits 11th at 7-1 despite having no victories over ranked opponents. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek said the panel valued the Fighting Irish's play on offense and defense, while acknowledging the absence of a standout win. Notre Dame lost at BYU, and Yurachek identified its neutral-site victory over Wisconsin as its next-best result. The upcoming Miami game offers an opportunity to strengthen that record.

Alabama's placement makes it the highest-ranked team with two losses. Tennessee is 13th despite beating the Crimson Tide 26-10 last month. Yurachek explained that the teams had not been considered in the same comparison group, meaning their head-to-head result had not yet factored into the rankings. He pointed to Alabama's victories over Kentucky and South Carolina, along with a Mississippi State win that was notable at the time.

The Big 12 has two teams in the top 10, with unbeaten Utah at No. 3 and BYU at No. 9. Texas Tech is 15th. BYU and Texas Tech each have two ranked victories, while Utah's lone top-25 win came against Houston on Oct. 24. BYU visits Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Several SEC games on Saturday also carry implications for the next rankings: Texas visits Missouri, Kentucky travels to Tennessee, Georgia faces Ole Miss and Alabama plays at LSU. Ohio State, ranked 12th after losing at USC, faces Oregon. The Buckeyes' record includes victories at Indiana and Iowa.