Georgia Takes Top Spot as Playoff Rankings Shift

Georgia rose to the top of the College Football Playoff rankings after beating Ole Miss 42-7. Utah, unbeaten at 9-0, stayed near the summit at No. 2, while UCLA climbed to No. 4 and Notre Dame reached No. 5 after defeating previously top-ranked Miami 31-24. Utah had beaten BYU 28-20, leaving the Cougars at No. 10.

Several teams slid after losses. Ohio State fell to No. 20 following a 41-28 defeat by Oregon, its second loss in a row. The Buckeyes had led 14-0 and now stand at 6-3. LSU, also 6-3, dropped to No. 21 after a 31-13 loss to Alabama. Ole Miss, which has lost three games, landed at No. 19.

Tennessee moved into the top 10 at No. 8 after beating Kentucky, which fell to No. 11. Texas, ranked No. 6, defeated Missouri, pushing the Tigers down to No. 22. Florida dropped out of the rankings after another heavy defeat, this time against Oklahoma.

Oregon is ranked No. 16 despite three losses, following recent wins over Ohio State, Northwestern and Nebraska. Wake Forest, at No. 13, also drew attention after a 77-0 victory over Merrimack. Miami’s playoff hopes remain in play, with a game against Duke next on its schedule.

Ole Miss faces Oklahoma next, then Wofford and Mississippi State. The team has struggled with tackling and consistency on both sides of the ball. A strong finish could help the Rebels build momentum for next season, even if they do not reach the playoff.