Oregon leads the College Football Playoff rankings after first poll for the 12-team field
cory woodroof
·1 min read
Dec 6, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks mascot Puddles gestures in the first half during the Pac-12 Conference championship game against the Utah Utes at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-404713 ORIG FILE ID: 20191206_jfv_al2_258.jpg
The Oregon Ducks lead the historic first 2024 College Football Playoff rankings where 12 teams will vie for a chance at a national championship.
Dan Lanning's undefeated Ducks sit atop the rankings, while the Ohio State Buckeyes are right behind them at the second spot and the Georgia Bulldogs round out the top three.
We also saw contenders like the Texas Longhorns, Miami Hurricanes and Penn State Nittany Lions ranked among the top 10.
The 12-team playoff will draw from these rankings, even if the top 12 teams on this list aren't all guaranteed a spot in the final field. As always, this list is subject to change as the season goes on.
Let's dive into the first rankings and see where all the top college teams stand in early November.
25. Army
Sep 21, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily (13) celebrates a run with tight end Will Montesi (86) during the first half against the Rice Owls at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
24. Missouri
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Luther Burden III #3 of the Missouri Tigers catches a pass while defended by BJ Mayes #20 of the Texas A&M Aggies in the second half at Kyle Field on October 05, 2024 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
23. Clemson
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 19: Phil Mafah #7 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
22. Louisville
Louisville wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks (1) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown with Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore (15) defending during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Louisville at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend.
21. Washington State
Sep 14, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars edge Raam Stevenson (45) sacks Washington Huskies quarterback Will Rogers (7) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
20. Colorado
Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) scores a touchdown against the UCF Knights during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883102 ORIG FILE ID: 20240928_gma_sk4_0312.jpg
19. Kansas State
Sep 21, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) reaches for a touchdown against Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Logan Lutui (59) during the third quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
18. Pittsburgh
Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Phillip O'Brien Jr. (5) celebrates with his teammates after beating the Syracuse Orange at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
17. Iowa State
Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama III (24) runs the football against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) jump passes the ball during the second half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
15. LSU
Sep 28, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) talks to head coach Brian Kelly during warmups before a game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883077 ORIG FILE ID: 20240928_jhp_la1_0025.JPG
14. Texas A&M
Nov 2, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko calls a timeout against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
13. SMU
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Matthew Hibner #88 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
12. Boise State
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 12: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on October 12, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
11. Alabama
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Kalen DeBoer of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
10. Notre Dame
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates a rushing a touchdown with teammates during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
9. BYU
Oct 18, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Darius Lassiter (5) celebrates a touchdown with teammates in the last minute of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883236 ORIG FILE ID: 20241018_tbs_gb6_1032.JPG
8. Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - OCTOBER 26: Tayven Jackson #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers hands the ball off to Justice Ellison #6 during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
7. Tennessee
Oct 12, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) scrambles with the ball against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
6. Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 02: Zion Tracy #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after intercepting a pass thrown by Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and returning it for a touchdown during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium on November 02, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776153538 ORIG FILE ID: 2182502801
5. Texas
Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883244 ORIG FILE ID: 20241019_gma_uo1_0746.jpg
4. Miami
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) runs with the football against the Florida State Seminoles during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883316 ORIG FILE ID: 20241026_SN_0059_na2_.jpg
3. Georgia
Oct 12, 2024; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) passes against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883186 ORIG FILE ID: 20241012_dwz_sz2_00054.JPG
2. Ohio State
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 02: Gee Scott Jr. #88 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-13 at Beaver Stadium on November 02, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
1. Oregon
Oct 26, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) hands the ball to running back Jordan James (20) during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883307 ORIG FILE ID: 20241026_taw_wb2_60.JPG
