Ohio State dropped to No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, sitting outside the projected 12-team field after a 30-18 loss to Southern Cal, according to USA Today.
The selection committee placed the Buckeyes at No. 12 following their second loss of the season, leaving them behind the highest Group of 6 team, Boise State, under the current format detailed by the NCAA. Fans compared the committee’s treatment to Florida State’s exclusion in 2023.
November 3️⃣ College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings 1️⃣2️⃣. Ohio State Buckeyes // @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/2jFXWq7mV1
Julian Sayin’s Injury Alters Ohio State’s Path
With Sayin sidelined, freshman backup Luke Fahey started against Southern Cal, while Ohio State’s star wide receiver finished with 80 yards in the loss.
First CFP Top 25 Rankings and Bracket Projections
Miami (Fla.) claimed the No. 1 spot in the initial top 25, leading an unblemished tier that also includes Georgia, Utah, and UCLA. Under the selection format, the four highest-ranked teams — regardless of how they finish in their conference — receive first-round byes into the quarterfinals, and the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions each receive an automatic bid, while the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt also receives an automatic bid without needing to be a conference champion.
| Seed Range | Matchup / Placement | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Byes (1-4) | Quarterfinal hosts | Miami (Fla.), Georgia, Utah, Indiana |
| First Round (5-12) | Campus-site games | Boise State at Alabama, BYU at UCLA, Notre Dame at Kentucky, Ole Miss at Texas |
| First Team Out | Next in line | Ohio State (No. 12) |
Weekly Release Schedule Leading to Selection Sunday
Six top 25 rankings will be released by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee during the 2026-27 season, with four more in-season rankings leading up to the selection committee’s final rankings on Sunday, Dec. 6, when the official bracket and final CFP field selections are revealed.
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