Never miss CFP - Natty Road š
KNOXVILLE ā The seasonās first playoff rankings have a resume vs. record problem.
Tennessee beat Alabama. The CFP committee ranked the Tide eight spots higher.
Ohio State beat Indiana. The Hoosiers are ranked eight spots higher.
UCLA is undefeated, yet ranked behind two-loss Alabama and Texas.
Tennessee beat Alabama 26-10. The Vols held the Tide to 201 total yards, forced four turnovers, and played shutout defense in the second half. Seventeen days later, the College Football Playoff selection committee dropped the seasonās first CFP rankings with a glaring flaw: Alabama No. 5, and Tennessee No. 13.
Same 6-2 record. A 16-point head-to-head beating. An eight-position gap.
Thatās the controversy in the first 2026 CFP rankings. And thereās a legitimate question here: How much does head-to-head actually matter when the committee builds its playoff board?
If you have more football IQ than last weekās molding jack-o-lantern, this breakdown of the seasonās first CFP rankings is for you:
