The CFP rankings by conference tell a clear story after the first College Football Playoff release on Nov. 3: the SEC has 10 of the 25 spots, the Big Ten has six and the Big 12 has five. Here is the full count, who is in each group and what this week’s league games mean.
Quick summary
- SEC: 10 teams in the top 25, including five of the top 12.
- Big Ten: six teams, led by No. 4 Indiana.
- Big 12: five teams, led by No. 3 Utah.
- ACC: two teams (Miami at No. 1 and Wake Forest at No. 16), plus independent Notre Dame at No. 11.
CFP rankings by conference: the full count
The counts below come from the first rankings released Nov. 3, as reported by NCAA.com. Numbers in parentheses are each team’s ranking.
| Conference | Teams | Top 12 |
|---|---|---|
| SEC | 10 | 5 |
| Big Ten | 6 | 3 |
| Big 12 | 5 | 2 |
| ACC | 2 | 1 |
| Pac-12 | 1 | 0 |
| Independent | 1 | 1 |
One caution: a larger count does not mean a conference has more playoff spots. It reflects how many teams the committee ranked on Nov. 3, and those teams still have games left against each other. A league with many ranked teams can also lose several of them in a single weekend, which is why the totals tend to change from one release to the next.
The top 12 matters most because the committee announces the final playoff field on Sunday, Dec. 6, and teams ranked near the top have the best chance of earning a place.
SEC: 10 teams and a crowded middle
The SEC places Georgia (2), Alabama (5), Kentucky (6), Texas (7), Ole Miss (10), Tennessee (13), LSU (14), Missouri (18), South Carolina (21) and Florida (24) in the rankings. Georgia, at 7-1, is the highest-ranked. Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri and Florida each have at least two losses, while Kentucky has one.
The depth is a strength and a risk. Strong conference schedules help a résumé, but SEC teams also have to beat each other, so the number of SEC teams in the rankings is likely to shrink as league games play out. You can see the teams on the school pages for Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Big Ten: Indiana leads six teams
The Big Ten has Indiana (4), UCLA (8), Ohio State (12), Iowa (19), Southern Cal (20) and Oregon (23). Indiana is 8-1 and the highest-ranked team in the league, while UCLA is the only unbeaten Big Ten team in the top 25 at 8-0. Ohio State (6-2) sits on the edge of the top 12.
Big 12: Utah and BYU at the top
The Big 12 has Utah (3), BYU (9), Texas Tech (15), Houston (17) and Arizona (22). Utah is 8-0 and BYU is 7-1, and they meet on Saturday at noon ET. That game decides which of the league’s two highest-ranked teams takes the early advantage.
ACC, Pac-12 and independents
The ACC’s Miami (Fla.) is No. 1 at 8-0, and Wake Forest (7-1) is No. 16. Notre Dame (7-1) is No. 11 as an independent, and Boise State (7-1) is No. 25 as the lone Pac-12 team. Miami visits Notre Dame on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, so the top-ranked team plays the top-ranked independent.
Conference games that will change the count
Four SEC games on Saturday, Nov. 7 pit two ranked teams against each other: Georgia at Ole Miss, Alabama at LSU, Kentucky at Tennessee and Texas at Missouri. At least four SEC teams will take a loss, which could trim the conference’s total after the Nov. 10 release. Ohio State hosts Oregon in a Big Ten game that involves two ranked teams, and Utah hosts BYU in a Big 12 matchup of top-10 teams.
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for LSU vs. Alabama on RallyFuel
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Tennessee vs. Kentucky on RallyFuel
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Missouri vs. Texas on RallyFuel
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Ohio State vs. Oregon on RallyFuel
🗳️ Vote: Make your prediction for Utah vs. BYU on RallyFuel
For the full top 12 and the next release dates, read our CFP rankings 2026 breakdown. For this weekend’s schedule, see college football Week 10 games to watch, and for the polls see the AP Top 25 rankings.
What to watch on Nov. 10
The next CFP rankings come out Tuesday, Nov. 10, with more releases on Nov. 17, Nov. 24 and Dec. 1. The final field arrives Sunday, Dec. 6. After this weekend’s league games, watch whether the SEC keeps 10 teams in the top 25 and whether the Big Ten and Big 12 move up the table.
FAQ
Which conference has the most teams in the CFP rankings?
The SEC has the most, with 10 teams in the first top 25, five of them in the top 12.
How many Big Ten teams are in the CFP top 25?
Six: Indiana, UCLA, Ohio State, Iowa, Southern Cal and Oregon.
Is Notre Dame counted with the ACC?
No. Notre Dame is ranked 11th as an independent and is counted separately in this breakdown.
When are the next CFP rankings?
The next release is Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the final field is set Sunday, Dec. 6.
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