The College Football Playoff selection committee has released its first rankings of the 2026 season this week. The ranking offered an early look at how it sees the nation’s top contenders.
The committee evaluates each team’s full body of work, using factors such as strength of schedule, head-to-head results, common opponents, and key injuries when comparing similar teams.
However, the committee’s initial decisions have already sparked debate, with ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum questioning the logic behind several evaluations.
Paul Finebaum Rips CFP Committee’s First 2026 Rankings
The CFP selection committee unveiled its first rankings of the 2026 season, with undefeated Miami (8-0) securing the No. 1 spot. Georgia (7-1) followed at No. 2, while Utah (8-0) claimed the third position and Indiana (8-1) came in at No. 4. Alabama (6-2) surprisingly completed the top five.
Kentucky (7-1) was ranked No. 6, followed by Texas (6-2) at No. 7, undefeated UCLA (8-0) at No. 8, BYU (7-1) at No. 9, and Ole Miss (6-2) at No. 10. Notre Dame (7-1) narrowly missed the top 10, landing at No. 11.
Ohio State (6-2) and Tennessee (6-2) occupied the 12th and 13th positions, respectively, while LSU (6-2) was placed at No. 14.
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The initial rankings created heavy debate, but teams still have time to improve their positions before the final CFP rankings are announced on December 6. However, Finebaum was far from impressed with the committee’s first set of rankings and questioned the logic behind several of its decisions.
“I don’t really know if I could make much sense out of it because it is about as discombobulated a ranking as I’ve ever seen,” Finebaum said. “I would use words like the committee was drunk, but that would be inappropriate for such an august group of people.”
“But it really doesn’t make any sense. And you and I, you and I know that it is going to change. And I don’t want to. I don’t want to blow the fun this Wednesday morning.”
One of the biggest surprises in the committee’s initial rankings was Alabama’s placement at No. 5 despite entering the rankings with a 6-2 record. It comes even though Tennessee handed Alabama a 26-10 loss just a few weeks earlier.
CFP selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek defended Alabama’s position by pointing to the team’s collection of quality wins. However, Finebaum strongly disagreed with the committee’s evaluation.
“But trying to make sense out of this would literally drive me crazy because there isn’t really a lot of sense, and even though I’m sitting in Alabama today, Alabama has no business being where they are,” Finebaum said.
“That is truly absurd to have Alabama that far ahead of Tennessee, a team that just disemboweled them a couple of weeks ago in Neyland Stadium,” he said.
Alabama is currently ranked 53rd in PFN’s College Team Offense Impact Score with a grade of 83.2
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“And for the committee to value Alabama’s win about five or six weeks ago at Mississippi State, when the quarterback Kamario Taylor was in the game at the beginning and then became injured, makes no sense. But then again, I’m used to the committee not making a lot of sense.”
Taylor did leave the Alabama game early, although he had entered the matchup already dealing with the foot injury he suffered the previous week against Missouri.
The CFP Selection Committee is scheduled to meet again on November 9-10, with its second set of rankings expected to be released the following Tuesday.
