College Football Playoff Rankings prediction: Miami on top, surprise SEC team begins in top four

Key Points:

• The first College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings of the 2026 season will be released Tuesday night, featuring new committee members and metrics such as strength of conference, which may result in a different ranking approach than in previous years.
• CBS Sports predicts Miami (8-0) will hold the No. 1 spot, followed by Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, and BYU rounding out the top five, with key wins and losses influencing their placements.
• Notable teams like UCLA and Indiana have mixed resumes, with UCLA undefeated but facing scrutiny over a weak schedule, while Indiana is ranked lower due to a perceived lack of quality despite an 8-1 record.
• The predicted playoff bracket features first-round matchups including Boise State at BYU and Ohio State at UCLA, with quarterfinals set for late December and early January involving top seeds Miami, Georgia, Utah, and Kentucky.
• Several teams, such as South Carolina and Missouri, have strong resumes with quality wins that could improve their rankings, while others like Notre Dame face a challenging path to the playoff without additional top-25 wins.