Georgia earned its first statement win of the season Saturday night at Alabama, coincidentally on the same day that No. 1 Texas lost to rival Oklahoma. "We're not dead," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. "We're going to be OK. We'll get back up off the mat." Not before a few teams step over the Longhorns to move up in the latest top-12 projection. Week 6 provided plenty of shake-ups in what was the most consequential week so far, with Oregon losing an ugly game to surging UCLA, Indiana getting tested at Nebraska and LSU falling in overtime to a much-improved Kentucky team. It was the third time in AP poll history that at least three top-10 SEC teams lost on the same day, according to ESPN Research. The result? A new No. 1, of course. And a trickle-down effect that follows.
Based on historical knowledge and an understanding of the criteria and protocol, here's a look at what the College Football Playoff selection committee might do if the rankings were today. Jump to: Ranking | Bracket Projecting the top 12
1. Georgia Bulldogs (6-0)
Why they could be here: The Bulldogs finally added a statement win to their résumé to complement what everyone has seen on film -- the most complete team in the country. It was a close matchup in Tuscaloosa that went down to the wire and included a controversial non-call late in the game on what looked like pass interference against the Bulldogs, but for Georgia to earn a road win against a top-10 SEC team changed the playoff picture. Georgia's résumé also got a slight boost Saturday afternoon when Oklahoma beat then-No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry game, giving the Sooners their biggest win of the season. Prior to Saturday night, Georgia's 41-13 drubbing of a downtrodden OU team was its best win.
Why they could be lower: Miami looks even better than last year, when it played for the national title. The Hurricanes were on a bye, though, so it's highly unlikely they will earn the top spot without a win against a ranked opponent unless enough committee members simply believe they're the best team in the country. Which it might be. Miami is No. 1 in scoring offense and No. 1 in scoring defense. It also wasn't a flawless performance for Georgia on Saturday night, as the Bulldogs had one turnover and allowed six plays of at least 20 yards, their most in a game since 2024 against Texas.
Need to know: Georgia in its next two games should be favored against Auburn and Florida, and if the Bulldogs can avoid an upset, they will be undefeated heading into the first ranking of the season. If Georgia can hang on to the top spot through Selection Day, it will benefit as the No. 1 seed this year gets to pick its CFP quarterfinal bowl. Toughest remaining game: Nov. 7 at Ole Miss. ESPN's FPI gives Georgia at least an 80% chance to win each of its remaining games.
2. Miami Hurricanes (5-0)
Why they could be here: The Canes had a bye week but moved up after Texas lost, which bumped the Longhorns and Ohio State down. The Canes don't have a strong enough win to stake a claim for the top spot, but they have three road victories to help separate them from other contenders, even if they're not against ranked opponents. The victory at Wake Forest (5-1) would probably get more credit in the room than it does from the public, and although Clemson has struggled this season, the Tigers are above .500, which is something the group considers. The biggest factor, though, would be the wow factor -- Miami is playing at a consistently elite level and oozing talent on both sides of the ball. The Canes have been statistically dominant, and the eye test matches the stats. The selection committee also considers common opponents, and while Miami and Notre Dame both walloped Stanford, scoring at least 45 points and holding the Cardinal to no more than seven, the committee might give an edge to the Canes for doing it ...
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing