UCLA lands No. 8 in initial CFP rankings despite undefeated record
The committee placed the Bruins behind Indiana, Texas, and Alabama, citing strength of schedule differences.
By Meera Fletcher ·
UCLA received a No. 8 seed in the first College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday for the 2026 season. This placement sits three spots lower than the program’s current standing in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The committee placed the undefeated Bruins behind No. 4 Indiana, a one-loss team, and two-loss teams No. 7 Texas and No. 5 Alabama. All three teams compete in the Big Ten or SEC conferences, which have claimed the last three national championships.
Head coach Bob Chesney, in his first year leading the program, noted that the team has covered the betting spread in all eight games this season. He expressed indifference toward the arbitrary nature of the rankings during a practice session on Tuesday. Chesney stated that the two most meaningless statistics in college sports are the halftime score and a team's record entering November. He added that the coaching staff does not plan to address local media until after Saturday’s game at Minnesota.
The ranking disparity appears linked to strength of schedule metrics. According to ESPN FPI data, UCLA holds the 77th-ranked schedule, while Indiana ranks 31st, Texas 9th, and Alabama 7th. The committee did not apply the same penalty to No. 3 Utah, which has an 83rd-ranked schedule and no victories over CFP-ranked opponents. CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained the decision on Tuesday, stating that Utah presents a balanced offensive profile with a dynamic quarterback and strong defense. Yurachek said the committee felt Utah was the better team when evaluating game footage compared to UCLA.
Other programs also noted shifts in the initial rankings. No. 12 Ohio State dropped eight spots behind Indiana, while No. 11 Notre Dame fell seven spots below its AP rank due to schedule concerns. No. 9 BYU suffered from an upset loss at UCF, whereas No. 2 Georgia’s loss at Auburn did not impact its standing. Three-loss teams Oregon, Florida, and South Carolina displaced several Group of Six programs from the top 12.
UCLA’s remaining schedule ranks 33rd in strength and includes home and away games against Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and No. 20 USC. The defense currently ranks fifth in the FBS for points allowed, averaging 13.4 per game, and leads the nation in turnovers forced with 26. The rushing attack ranks 15th, averaging 219.5 yards per game. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach must continue to develop a consistent passing game, a factor often considered by committee members when evaluating backups.
The Bruins’ path to the postseason remains intact despite the initial seeding. If the season ended now, UCLA would face No. 9 BYU in the first round at the Rose Bowl. Chesney emphasized that the team will focus on internal performance rather than external perceptions. He told players that the ranking number is irrelevant if they continue to execute the fundamentals that led to their current success.
