Miami opened the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 1, even after being pushed hard by North Carolina over the weekend. The Hurricanes stayed unbeaten with a narrow win in Chapel Hill, where quarterback Darian Mensah, receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. helped them pull away late.
The first rankings were released Tuesday. Only 12 teams will make the playoff when the final standings are announced later this season.
Georgia came in second, followed by Utah at No. 3, Indiana at No. 4 and Alabama at No. 5. Indiana’s position is notable: the defending national champions are 8-1, but lost to Ohio State earlier this season and have had a few closer games than expected.
The Hoosiers needed a dramatic finish to beat Minnesota. Luke Drzewiecki gave the Golden Gophers a 16-13 lead with a 60-yard field goal and 19 seconds left. Indiana kicker Paddy McAteer answered with a 60-yarder of his own to force overtime, and Indiana eventually escaped with the win.
Kentucky, Texas, UCLA, BYU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Ohio State rounded out the top 12. Ohio State is in the field for now, but would miss out if the season ended today: Boise State, ranked No. 25, could take its place as a Group of Six conference champion under the playoff’s automatic-qualification rules.
The committee’s view of Ohio State drew attention after the Buckeyes lost 30-18 to USC. With Julian Sayin sidelined indefinitely by a serious throwing-arm injury, backup quarterback Luke Fahey started. USC entered the rankings at No. 20.
The standings will shift in the coming weeks, and Miami’s game against Notre Dame on Saturday could have a major effect. Notre Dame is just outside the top 12, and a win over the Hurricanes would strengthen its playoff case. The Fighting Irish have not beaten a team currently ranked, though, and have no other ranked opponents left after Miami.
Committee chair Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas’ athletic director, said on ESPN that Notre Dame is a strong team but lacks a signature win against a team ranked ahead of it.
Just outside the top 12, Tennessee is No. 13, LSU No. 14, Texas Tech No. 15 and Wake Forest No. 16. Houston, Missouri, Iowa and USC follow, with South Carolina at No. 21, Arizona at No. 22, Oregon at No. 23, Florida at No. 24 and Boise State at No. 25.
