The first College Football Playoff selection committe's rankings of the season were released on Tuesday, with the 8-0 UCLA Bruins occupying the No. 8 spot. The No. 8 spot puts UCLA in a good spot to make the CFP if the Bruins can have a strong end to their turnaround season.
UCLA would be matched up with BYU in the first round at the Rose Bowl with a chance to face the Miami Hurricanes in the quarterfinals. It wouldn’t be an easy slate for the Bruins but it was never going to be regardless of where UCLA gets slotted.
Here's how the #CFP bracket would look if the season ended today‼️🏆 pic.twitter.com/n0anoUhozh
— CFP (@CFBPlayoff) November 4, 2026
The CFP ranking has UCLA down at No. 8 while the Associated Press ranking and the Coaches Poll both have the Bruins at the No. 5 spot.
It’s a bit of a warning for UCLA as they enter the final stretch of the regular season. If UCLA loses two games then they’re not going to make the CFP.
Even with one loss, it’s not a guarantee that No. 8 UCLA would hold its spot in the CFP. The Bruins are 8-0 but their schedule hasn’t aged well. 3-6 Cal has been a disappointment, Purdue’s offense has proven to not to be as good as UCLA made them look and their 17-15 win over Oregon came without Dante Moore.
UCLA has been good this season but they haven’t faced the quality of teams that make their 8-0 start worthy of a first round bye. That can change though. If UCLA handles business against Minnesota, Michigan and USC then the Bruins could potentially soar up the rankings.
Miami (FL) held the No. 1 spot with No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Utah and No. 4 Indiana all picked to earn first round byes. The rankings also had No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky and No. 7 Texas ahead of the Bruins. It continues to be amazing of where first-year head coach Bob Chesney can take UCLA football.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA football slotted in at No. 8 in College Football Playoff rankings
