College Football Playoff live rankings: Updated 12-team bracket revealed in first CFP poll of 2026

College football remains one of the most unpredictable sports out there. 

Entering the 2026 season, teams like Oregon, Texas A&M and Michigan were pinned as potential contenders for the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, squads like UCLA, Wake Forest and Kentucky weren't getting much — if any — national buzz. As we reach the first CFP rankings reveal of the season, they'll be another reminder of how quickly things can change in college football.

On Tuesday night, the committee will unveil its thoughts about the current landscape of the sport, ranking its Top 25 squads to provide a first glimpse at how the 2026 CFP bracket may look.

As expected before the season began, Miami, Georgia and Notre Dame are trending toward top seeds. But with two-loss records already for Ohio State, Texas, Alabama and more, there will be a lot of resumes to sort out in the coming weeks.

The playoffs are inching closer ahead of a critical Week 10 in college football — and only 12 teams will be feeling good about their projected ranking on Tuesday night.

The Sporting News is tracking the first CFP bracket reveal of the 2026 season. Follow along with how the committee ranks the top 25, along with a look at the first projected bracket.

STREAM: Watch the first CFP rankings show live with Fubo (free trial)

College Football Playoff rankings 2026

This section will be updated throughout the bracket reveal.

Who are the top 12 teams in first CFP bracket poll?

First four teams out

Rest of the top 25

MORE: College football Week 10 picks, predictions against the spread

College Football Playoff bracket 2026

This section will be updated with the projected bracket after it's revealed.

MORE: Why Georgia is the one title contender we can trust

How College Football Playoff format works in 2026

The same as the last two years, the CFP format in 2026 will be a 12-team field. However, there are changes to the seeding this season.

In a tweak from previous years, automatic bids are given to the four Power Four conference champions (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) as well as the highest-ranked team from the remaining FBS conferences. Previously, the five highest-ranked conference champions — regardless of conference — received automatic bids, which has now changed. Notre Dame can also receive an automatic bid if it finishes in the top-12 of the rankings.

The remaining seven spots are at-large bids, filled by the best teams available in the rankings.

The four highest-ranked teams — whether a conference champion or not — will get the top-four seeds and first-round byes, while the remaining eight teams play in the first round. 

Here's a look at how the College Football Playoff seeding will play out:

First round

• No. 1 team (bye)
• No. 2 team (bye)
• No. 3 team (bye)
• No. 4 team (bye)
• No. 12 team at No. 5 team
• No. 11 team at No. 6 team
• No. 10 team at No. 7 team
• No. 9 team at No. 8 team

Quarterfinals

• No. 1 team vs. No. 8/9 team
• No. 2 team vs. No. 7/10 team
• No. 3 team vs. No. 6/11 team
• No. 4 team vs. No. 5/12 team

College Football Playoff predictions

Here are The Sporting News' first CFP bracket projections for Week 10, according to Bill Bender:

MORE: Full Week 10 CFP projections, first teams out 

College Football Playoff rankings release schedule 2026

Starting Tuesday night, a weekly CFP ranking reveal show will be on ESPN. The time for the show will vary by week. The schedule is listed below. 

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