College Football Playoff: Miami leads 12-team field in first projection
The Hurricanes top the projected rankings ahead of Georgia and BYU, while Texas and LSU remain in the mix despite losses.
By John Ferrari ·
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has thrown 25 touchdown passes with only one interception, leading the Hurricanes to the top of the first projected College Football Playoff field. The 8-0 team holds the No. 1 spot in the initial rankings released on November 2. This projection aligns with the first CFP rankings announced on Tuesday night, which coincided with Election Day voting.
The 12-team field includes Georgia at No. 2 and BYU at No. 3. Georgia enters the conversation with a 7-1 record and a defense that allows only 14.9 points per game. The Bulldogs rely on Gunner Stockton, who has completed 16 touchdown passes with four interceptions. BYU, also 7-1, secured a second-place finish in the Big 12 race by defeating then-No. 2 Notre Dame before falling to Central Florida.
Notre Dame sits at No. 4 with a 7-1 record. The Irish opened as 4.5-point favorites against Miami in their upcoming matchup. Utah follows at No. 5 with an 8-0 record, having defeated Cincinnati 49-25 in their most recent outing. UCLA, also 8-0, holds the No. 6 spot under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. Opponents have averaged just seven points against the Bruins in their last five games.
Indiana occupies the No. 7 position as the defending national champions. The Hoosiers are 7-1, with their sole loss coming in overtime to Minnesota. Texas is projected at No. 8 with a 6-2 record. The Longhorns lost to unranked Oklahoma and Florida but secured quality victories against Ohio State and Ole Miss. Kentucky rounds out the top eight at No. 9 with a 7-1 record under first-year coach Will Stein.
Ole Miss ranks No. 10 with a 6-2 record. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for a 45-15 victory over Auburn following a loss to Texas. Ohio State is No. 11 at 6-2, with quarterback Julian Sayin out indefinitely due to an arm injury. The Buckeyes lost 30-18 to USC on the road. LSU holds the final spot at No. 12 with a 6-2 record. The Tigers face ranked opponents Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee following their bye week.
The selection committee of 13 members convened to determine the initial rankings. The final field will be set after the regular season concludes, with additional games serving as tiebreakers for teams like Texas and LSU. Miami faces Notre Dame in a key test of its top ranking, while Utah and BYU clash in the Holy War. The committee’s final decision will determine which 12 teams advance to the winter playoff bracket.
