November 15, 2026 — The college football playoff race is heating up as the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and National Football Foundation (NFF) released their Week 11 Super 16 rankings, with Georgia maintaining its grip on the nation’s No. 1 position for the second consecutive week.
The Bulldogs strengthened their case as the country’s top team with a commanding 48–21 victory over Missouri in Athens, while second-ranked Utah survived one of the weekend’s closest contests, defeating Arizona 40–39 to remain undefeated.
Unlike the previous week’s unpredictable results, the latest rankings featured stability among the nation’s leading programs. All 12 teams that occupied the top 12 positions in last week’s poll emerged victorious.
However, losses by Kentucky, USC and Houston opened the door for three programs to enter the rankings.
Georgia Strengthens Its Hold on No. 1
Georgia continued its dominant season Saturday, jumping out to an early lead against Missouri before securing a convincing 48–21 victory.
The Bulldogs have just one loss this season and own victories over four ranked opponents, strengthening their position atop the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll.
Georgia appears positioned to finish the regular season with an 11–1 record before competing in the SEC Championship Game.
With the postseason approaching, the Bulldogs remain one of the strongest contenders for a College Football Playoff berth and national championship.
Georgia’s next challenge comes on the road against South Carolina.
Utah Escapes Arizona With 40–39 Victory to Remain Unbeaten
Second-ranked Utah faced a much tougher challenge, narrowly defeating Arizona 40–39 in one of the weekend’s most dramatic matchups.
The one-point victory preserved Utah’s undefeated record and its position directly behind Georgia in the national rankings.
While the Utes avoided an upset, the close contest demonstrated how quickly the playoff picture can change as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
Utah will now travel to face TCU in another important conference matchup.
For Arizona, the narrow defeat represents a missed opportunity to upset one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.
Notre Dame, UCLA Round Out the Top Four
Notre Dame maintained its No. 3 ranking following another victory, while unbeaten UCLA remained fourth.
Both programs continue to strengthen their postseason positioning as the regular season winds down.
Miami moved into fifth place, swapping positions with Indiana, which now occupies the No. 6 ranking.
Alabama, Texas and Tennessee held positions seven through nine, respectively.
Wake Forest climbed to No. 10, exchanging places with Texas Tech, which dropped to No. 11.
2026 FWAA-NFF Super 16 Rankings — Week 11
Released November 15, 2026
| Rank | Team | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | SEC |
| 2 | Utah | Big 12 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | Independent |
| 4 | UCLA | Big Ten |
| 5 | Miami (FL) | ACC |
| 6 | Indiana | Big Ten |
| 7 | Alabama | SEC |
| 8 | Texas | SEC |
| 9 | Tennessee | SEC |
| 10 | Wake Forest | ACC |
| 11 | Texas Tech | Big 12 |
| 12 | BYU | Big 12 |
| 13 | Oregon | Big Ten |
| 14 | Iowa | Big Ten |
| 15 | Boise State | Pac-12 |
| 16 | Ohio State | Big Ten |
The Big Ten leads all conferences with five ranked teams, followed by the SEC with four and the Big 12 with three.
The ACC has two ranked programs, while the Pac-12 and independent programs each have one representative.
Iowa, Boise State and Ohio State Enter the Rankings
Although the top 12 remained unchanged in terms of membership, the bottom portion of the rankings experienced significant movement.
Kentucky, USC and Houston, previously ranked 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively, all suffered losses and dropped out of the Super 16.
Their departures allowed Iowa, Boise State and Ohio State to enter the rankings.
Iowa moved into the No. 14 position, while Boise State claimed No. 15 and Ohio State entered at No. 16.
The changes demonstrate how competitive the final weeks of the regular season have become, particularly for programs trying to strengthen their postseason résumés.
Texas Survives LSU in Another One-Point Thriller
Eighth-ranked Texas also narrowly avoided an upset, defeating LSU 22–21.
The Longhorns maintained their position in the Super 16 despite the close result.
With several ranked programs escaping narrow victories, the latest poll highlights the challenges facing teams attempting to maintain their positions heading into the postseason.
The postponed Ole Miss-Oklahoma game was not included in this week’s rankings. That matchup was moved to Sunday afternoon because of travel difficulties affecting Ole Miss.
Week 12 College Football Schedule: Ranked Teams Face Critical Matchups
The upcoming schedule features several important contests that could influence the next Super 16 rankings.
| Ranked team | Upcoming opponent |
|---|---|
| No. 1 Georgia | at South Carolina |
| No. 2 Utah | at TCU |
| No. 3 Notre Dame | vs. SMU |
| No. 4 UCLA | at Michigan |
| No. 5 Miami (FL) | vs. Virginia Tech |
| No. 6 Indiana | at Washington |
| No. 7 Alabama | vs. Chattanooga |
| No. 8 Texas | vs. Arkansas |
| No. 9 Tennessee | vs. LSU |
| No. 10 Wake Forest | at Georgia Tech |
| No. 11 Texas Tech | at Baylor |
| No. 12 BYU | at Kansas |
| No. 13 Oregon | at Michigan State (Friday) |
| No. 14 Iowa | at Illinois |
| No. 15 Boise State | vs. San Diego State |
| No. 16 Ohio State | at Nebraska |
Several games could have significant implications for conference standings and postseason positioning.
Utah’s road matchup against TCU will be especially important as the Utes attempt to preserve their undefeated season.
UCLA faces a challenging road trip to Michigan, while Oregon travels to Michigan State for a Friday matchup.
College Football Playoff Race Enters Critical Stretch
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, every victory carries increasing importance for teams seeking conference championships and College Football Playoff opportunities.
Georgia has established itself as the nation’s leading team, but unbeaten Utah and UCLA remain firmly in contention.
Notre Dame continues to hold a strong position, while Miami, Indiana and Alabama remain among the programs competing near the top of the rankings.
The latest results also demonstrate that even highly ranked teams are vulnerable to close games.
As the schedule moves toward conference championship weekend, the race for postseason positioning is expected to intensify.
About the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll
The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll was established following the 2013 college football season through a partnership between the Football Writers Association of America and the National Football Foundation.
The poll ranks the top 16 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
Its voting panel includes college football writers and College Football Hall of Famers selected to provide geographically balanced representation.
Rankings are released weekly throughout the season, and individual ballots are made available to the public.
The final poll of the 2026 regular season is scheduled for December 6.
The Super 16 is separate from the official College Football Playoff selection committee rankings.
Source: Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation, Week 11 Super 16 Poll, November 15, 2026.
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