The second CFP ranking of the 2026 season is here, and it looks very different from last week's as No. 1 teams continue to drop games.
This week, Georgia tops the ranking followed by Utah, Alabama and UCLA.
With just three weeks left in the regular season, teams need to put their best foot forward to prove they're worthy of a spot in this year's field. So with that in mind, our college football reporters break down the strengths for every team in the committee's most recent top 25 ranking.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Behind a big and veteran offensive line, Georgia has flexed its ability to run the football in its past two victories against Florida and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs ran for 217 yards on 42 attempts in a 27-8 win over the Gators. Then they had 295 yards on 48 carries in last week's 42-7 rout of the Rebels on the road. Georgia coach Kirby Smart wants to wear down opposing defenses; he calls it an "anaconda effect" that squeezes the life out of them. After battling a rib injury, tailback Nate Frazier is healthy again and had 107 yards at Ole Miss. Dwight Phillips Jr. seems ready to break a long run at any moment, and backup Chauncey Bowens might be close to coming back from a foot injury. -- Mark Schlabach
2. Utah Utes
The Utes have, as they almost always do, great play in the trenches. They're a top-25 rushing defense and a top-12 rushing attack, but right now their biggest strength might not be their foundation but rather the player with the ball in his hands on every play. Quarterback Devon Dampier continues to impress this season and is coming off a dynamic performance against BYU in which he scored two touchdowns with his arm, two with his legs and even caught a 29-yard pass. Dampier's breakout is crucial for the Utes; we know they're going to deliver balanced play on both sides of the ball, which has made them impossible to beat this season, but Dampier's playmaking elevates their ceiling. -- Paolo Uggetti
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Keelon Russell's playmaking ability at quarterback has been evident since the day he took over as starter. The 19-year-old, in his first season as starter, is a pass-first QB with the ability to make plays with his legs, whether that's moving outside the pocket and throwing on the run, or tucking the ball and taking off on his own. Playing behind a completely rebuilt offensive line, he has recorded 18 passing touchdowns to five interceptions, and he has run for 276 yards and five scores. -- Alex Scarborough
4. UCLA Bruins
How do you go 9-0 when your starting quarterback gets injured and is out for the season? By having one of the best defenses in the country. The Bruins' defensive unit is top 20 in the country in rushing defense, passing defense and scoring defense. Over the past six games, UCLA has allowed an average of 9.2 points per game. On three separate occasions this season, the Bruins have not allowed a touchdown in a game, and on top of that, they lead the country in turnovers forced with 27. It's a remarkable effort made even more impressive by the fact that this is the first year in Westwood for coach Bob Chesney, defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler and the 20 defensive players who transferred to UCLA this offseason. -- Uggetti
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The combination of quarterback CJ Carr and an offensive line that hardly ever allows sacks makes Notre Dame's passing game increasingly dangerous. Carr operates much like an NFL quarterback, getting the Irish in or out of plays and whipping passes to the perimeter or around defenders. He is protected well but also doesn't put Notre Dame in many negative-yardage situations. Carr also showed in the Miami win that he could meet the big moment with great decision-making. -- Adam Rittenberg
6. Texas Longhorns
Will Muschamp's return to Texas has helped elevate the Longhorns' defense when they needed it most. The D has been a steadying force for this team, ranking third in the SEC in scoring (17.4 points) and total defense (280.1 yards) and fourth against the run (100.3 yards) and pass (179.8). And the Longhorns do it all, such as linebacker Rasheem Biles, the Pitt transfer, who has been a star with 67 tackles, four sacks, three INTs, three forced fumbles, six pass breakups and 10 hurries. Most importantly, they've allowed teams to score touchdowns only 39% of the time in the red zone, best in the SEC, contrasted with 62% last season. -- Dave Wilson
7. Miami Hurricanes
Darian Mensah has been the best quarterback in the country this season thanks to his incredible accuracy, vision and ability to extend plays even as the protection in front of him has been inconsistent. Losing receiver Malachi Toney for the remainder of the regular season is obviously a big blow, but in the second half last week against Notre Dame, Mensah adjusted and used Cooper Barkate and tight end Elija Lofton enough to help erase a 24-3 deficit and get the Hurricanes back in the game. On the season, Mensah is 212-of-276 for 2,694 yards with 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He leads the nation in completion percentage (77%) and pass efficiency, and he ranks in the top 10 in total offense and passing yards. -- Andrea Adelson
8. Tennessee Volunteers
Coach Josh Heupel's decision to go after former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles ended up being one of the best offseason acquisitions in the sport. The Volunteers rank second in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 15.1 points, nearly half of last season's average (28.8). The Volunteers rank second in passing defense, surrendering 172.1 yards per game, and they have more than twice as many interceptions (nine) as touchdowns allowed (four). Tennessee leads the league with 39 sacks. -- Schlabach
9. Indiana Hoosiers
The defensive front could be better than its national title predecessor, as Indiana not only regained great players but added some. Kansas State transfer Tobi Osunsanmi has boosted the group with eight sacks and a forced fumble, and Notre Dame transfer Josh Burnham has a team-high six quarterback hurries. Defensive lineman Stephen Daley, who received an extra year of eligibility, has maintained his incredible tackles-for-loss productivity, while tackles Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino hold down the interior. IU has the depth, talent and disruptiveness to fluster opposing offenses. -- Rittenberg
10. BYU Cougars
The Cougars are not elite in any one area but have found different ways to win because they are balanced. The secondary leads the nation in passes defended (54), and the offensive line has allowed just five sacks, which ranks No. 4. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier's versatility as a runner and passer has helped soften the blow from running back LJ Martin's prolonged injury. -- Kyle Bonagura
11. Kentucky Wildcats
To turn around a program like Kentucky takes talent, but the biggest thing is instilling confidence -- something first-year coach Will Stein has in spades. In consecutive games against South Carolina and LSU, he turned down game-tying extra points in overtime to go for two and win. The no-fear attitude extends to playcalling. Against Vanderbilt, the Wildcats took the lead on a direct snap to tight end Willie Rodriguez in which he faked a pass and ran into the end zone. Then they built a bigger lead when they put two quarterbacks on the field at once, motioned out the starter and had the backup run for the score. -- Scarborough
12. Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders are leaning into their strengths in the run game since making the switch to QB Thomas Castellanos. They've run the ball a combined 100 times for 604 yards over their two victories since losing at Cincinnati. J'Koby Williams, the Big 12's fourth-leading rusher, has surpassed 170 yards from scrimmage in three of his past four games, and Castellanos has gone over 100 rushing yards in consecutive starts. Tech's defense hasn't played up to the dominant standard it set in 2025, but it continues to be disruptive. The Red Raiders are No. 1 in the FBS in pressures and defensive touchdowns, and they are among the top 10 nationally in sacks and interceptions, per ESPN Research. -- Max Olson
13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
For all the much-deserved praise offered to Gio Lopez and Wake's offense this season, the backbone of this team is its defensive front. The Deacons have five players with at least 10 pressures on the season, led by star edge rusher Langston Hardy, who has racked up 5.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and seven QB hurries. On the inside, Wake is as good as anyone in the ACC -- and perhaps the country -- with the dynamic duo of Zach Lohavichan and Dallas Afalava. And even if the sack numbers aren't gaudy, the results speak for themselves. Wake is allowing just 5.1 yards per dropback this season, by far the best mark in the ACC, while 26.6% of opponent runs are stuffed at or behind the line, sixth nationally. The result is that nothing comes easy for the Deacons' opponents, who have the second-lowest rate of explosive plays in the country. -- David Hale
14. Houston Cougars
Coach Willie Fritz's squad does not get nervous in tight ballgames. The Cougars have won eight games decided by one-score margins over the past two seasons, tied with Indiana and Ole Miss for most among Power 4 programs. They've already been in six one-score games in the fourth quarter this year, and they're just a few plays away from being undefeated right now. Houston's offense continues to have the best third-down conversion rate in the FBS at 59.3%, and Amare Thomas has been the best third-down receiver in the country with 39 catches, 33 conversions, 560 yards and seven touchdowns. Conner Weigman has 35 career starts under his belt, and he is playing his best football with the best QBR (84.7) in the Big 12 and only four turnovers through nine games. -- Olson
15. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes are surprise contenders for a playoff spot behind a defense that's one of the best in the country. Iowa has given up just two touchdowns over the past three games. Breakout linebacker and Iowa native Cam Buffington leads the way with 82 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. -- Jake Trotter
16. Oregon Ducks
Oregon's 90.9% tackling rate ranks No. 1 in the FBS, and it has missed just 55 tackles, which ranks No. 2. Its tackling rate ranks as the best among power conference teams over the past five seasons and has helped limit big plays. -- Bonagura
17. South Carolina Gamecocks
This year's Gamecocks are shaping up to look an awful lot like the 2024 version -- a team that lost a few games early and found its footing late on the back of QB LaNorris Sellers. Sellers and South Carolina aren't necessarily dominating on all fronts, but they have a knack for dancing out of trouble, escaping disaster and turning a broken play into an explosive one. Sellers has racked up an FBS-best 400 scramble yards this season, and during South Carolina's four-game winning streak, Sellers has run for 246 yards, converted nine third- or fourth-down plays with his legs and rushed for six touchdowns. Sellers can still sling it, but his elusiveness and mobility have transformed South Carolina's offense since early October. -- Hale
18. USC Trojans
It's easy to say that the Trojans' strength is their offense because that has always been the case under coach Lincoln Riley, but this year, it has been the young playmakers who are making a considerable impact right away. Put simply, quarterback Jayden Maiava and the USC offense have looked like a completely different outfit when freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley and freshman tight end Mark Bowman have been healthy. Mosley leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns despite missing three games, while Bowman has been a game breaker who unlocks a different dynamic for the passing game and seems to be one of the more unstoppable players in the sport at just 18 years old. -- Uggetti
19. Ole Miss Rebels
Trinidad Chambliss is coming off his worst game at Ole Miss, but the senior quarterback is still the Rebels' biggest weapon. There's no question that Chambliss hasn't performed as well as he did last season when he took the SEC by storm after transferring from Division II Ferris State. He probably misses the familiarity with former coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., and tailback Kewan Lacy's absence (shoulder injury) has put more pressure on him. Still, Chambliss is completing 62.7% of his passes for 2,359 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's still one of the most dangerous players in the FBS when he has the ball in his hands. -- Schlabach
20. Ohio State Buckeyes
Even though the Buckeyes have lost two straight and have three defeats for the first time in the Ryan Day era, Jeremiah Smith will go down as one of the best wide receivers in college football history. Though it's hardly his fault, Smith's Heisman odds have tumbled with quarterback Julian Sayin sidelined with an arm injury. It will be a bummer if Smith doesn't get to close out his college career in the playoff. -- Trotter
21. LSU Tigers
Maybe LSU isn't quite the sum of its parts at 6-3, but the parts are pretty appealing. Coach Lane Kiffin's squad is full of high-end talent, whether it's Sam Leavitt at quarterback, Jackson Harris at receiver, Jordan Seaton at left tackle or Princewill Umanmielen at defensive end. Add another All-America type to the mix once star linebacker Whit Weeks returns from a leg injury. -- Scarborough
22. Missouri Tigers
Officiating complaints aside, the Tigers' focus is on the red zone, where the refs didn't cost them a chance at beating Texas, as they took care of that themselves with five final drives that resulted in zero points. With three losses, there is no CFP safety net in Columbia, but with two ranked opponents remaining in Georgia and Kentucky (no offense, Arkansas), there might still be enough ceiling for upward movement. The wild card in it all? The resiliency of running back Ahmad Hardy, who wasn't supposed to return this fall. His comeback has inspired the locker room. Does he have any All-American magic to boost Mizzou's stretch run stored away inside a body that still contains a bullet? No one expects him to carry a game load, but his presence alone might help cure those goal-line ills. -- Ryan McGee
23. Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats' passing game is efficient and productive behind record-setting senior quarterback Noah Fifita (43 career starts). Arizona ranks No. 3 nationally in completion percentage (72.7%) and No. 6 in both completions (234) and passing yards (2,906). Fifita can stretch the field, as Arizona is tied for 10th in completions of 20 yards or longer (41) and 17th in average yards per dropback (8.02). Top receiver Isaiah Mizell averages 18.8 yards per catch. -- Rittenberg
24. Boise State Broncos
The running game. Since being limited to just 50 yards in the opener against Oregon, running back Dylan Riley has been among the most productive players in the country, regardless of position. He leads the nation with 1,241 yards rushing to go along with 11 touchdowns. His presence has taken the pressure off quarterback Maddux Madsen, who has thrown 15 touchdown passes to just one interception, and made for a seamless transition to backup quarterback Max Cutforth the past two games after Madsen went down. -- Bonagura
25. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys can put up big points on anybody. It's no surprise coach Eric Morris has put together the No. 3 scoring offense in the FBS in Year 1 given all the playmakers he brought in from North Texas and the portal. The Pokes are averaging 47.8 points per game in Big 12 play after dropping 66 on Kansas State last week, and Mestemaker is already making a major push to be the first QB selected in the 2027 NFL draft with 3,139 total yards and 33 total TDs through nine games. Running back Caleb Hawkins has put together another 1,000-yard season in Morris' offense, and the receiver duo of Justin Bowick and Wyatt Young has been as explosive as advertised. The Cowboys' rebuilt offensive line deserves plenty of credit, too, for allowing the second-fewest sacks and tackles for loss in the Big 12 in league play. -- Olson