ESPN will televise the first CFP top-25 release show, with five top-25 ranking reveals over the next month before the final top 25 on Dec. 6.
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Tennessee, ranked No. 16 in the coaches and AP polls, should expect to be around that spot, pending the CFP’s preference on resume versus power rating.
The Vols next play Kentucky at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 7. The Wildcats will likely be ranked inside the CFP top 10. Future Tennessee opponent LSU also will be likely ranked in the top 25.
There are six total games pitting a ranked team (from the coaches poll) against another top-25 team, including four SEC games.
What channel is College Football Playoff rankings release show on today?
Streaming options for the rankings release include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
The first College Football Playoff rankings release show starts at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) and offensive lineman Sam Pendleton (56) celebrate after a play during a college football game against Auburn on Oct. 3, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) and offensive lineman Sam Pendleton (56) celebrate after a play during a college football game against Auburn on Oct. 3, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) celebrates with family after winning a college football game between Tennessee and Auburn at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 3, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) throws a pass during a game between Tennessee and Auburn in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, Oct. 3, 2026.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) throws the ball during a college football game between Tennessee and Auburn at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 3, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) during a college football game between Tennessee and Furman in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) throws the ball during a Tennessee football game against Furman at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) during a college football game between Tennessee and Furman in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) shows his frustration after a fumble during a college football game between Tennessee and Furman in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) during a college football game between Tennessee and Furman in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) during Tennessee football’s first preseason practice in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 5, 2026.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) speaks to the media during Tennessee football’s media day on Aug. 4, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) speaks to the media during Tennessee football’s media day on Aug. 4, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) reaches for a football to sign at a Tennessee Football meet and greet at Food City at 6710 Malone Creek Drive in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 25, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) warms up before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel, Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee football’s George MacIntyre (15) during Vols spring football practice at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, March 25, 2026.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) during the Vols’ spring football practice in Knoxville on March 17, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) during the Vols’ first spring football practice in Knoxville on March 16, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) throws the ball during Tennessee’s game against New Mexico State in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 15, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) before a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 11, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) throws the ball before a NCAA football game between Tennessee and UAB at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., September 20, 2025.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) waits for the ball during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Aug. 6, 2025.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6), Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15), and Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger (12) during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 31, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 31, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) during Tennessee football preseason practice, in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 31, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (16) speaks to the media during football media day, in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 29, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (16) speaks to the media during football media day, in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 29, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) during the Orange & White spring game in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, April 12, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) attempts to run into the end zone for a touchdown during the Orange & White spring game in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, April 12, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (15) and teammates after the Orange & White spring game in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, April 12, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
George MacIntyre, adjusts his Tennessee hat during signing day at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood , Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
(Nicole Hester / The Tennessean)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
George MacIntyre sits with his family during signing day at Brentwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
(Nicole Hester / The Tennessean)
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George MacIntyre, Tennessee Vols football quarterback for Josh Heupel
Brentwood Academy quarterback George MacIntyre announces his commitment to the University of Tennessee with his parents Sarah and Matt McIntyre during a ceremony at Brentwood Academy on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Brentwood, Tenn. MacIntyre is the number 3-ranked quarterback for the class 2025.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
CFP rankings release schedule 2026
Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7:30 p.m.
College Football Playoff format, how the CFP works
The top five ranked major conference champions are still guaranteed a spot, which will include at least the top-ranked non-major conference champion in FBS. Those conferences include the American, Conference USA, MAC, Sun Belt, Pac-12 and the Mountain West.
Seeding will otherwise be a reflection of the final CFP rankings.
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Like the last few seasons, teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12 will have a first-round matchup. Seeds 5 through 8 will host a first-round game on campus sites.
2026 CFP bracket, schedule
First round
Played Dec. 18 and 19 on campus sites
CFP No. 12 seed at CFP No. 5 seed
CFP No. 11 seed at CFP No. 6 seed
CFP No. 10 seed at CFP No. 7 seed
CFP No. 9 seed at CFP No. 8 seed
Quarterfinals
Bowl sites; will include CFP seeds Nos. 1-4 plus first-round winners
Fiesta Bowl CFP quarterfinal game, 6:30 p.m. CT on Dec. 30 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Cotton Bowl CFP quarterfinal game, TBD on Jan. 1, 2027 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Rose Bowl Game CFP quarterfinal game, TBD on Jan. 1, 2027 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Peach Bowl CFP quarterfinal game, TBD on Jan. 1, 2027 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Semifinals
Bowl sites
Orange Bowl CFP semifinal game, 6:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 14, 2027 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal game, 6:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 15, 2027 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
Championship
CFP semifinal winner vs. CFP semifinal winner, Jan. 25, 2026 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
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