College Football Playoff: 2026 second ranking time and TV

The second College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking of 2026 will be revealed Tuesday, November 10, at approximately 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The official window runs from 9 to 9:30 p.m. ET. The confirmed US broadcast is on ESPN and the ESPN app, but this weekly Top 25 will not determine the 12-team playoff field.

What time the reveal is expected

The *College Football Playoff: Top 25* show is expected to begin at approximately 9 p.m. ET on November 10. The official CFP schedule assigns it a 9–9:30 p.m. ET window.

That does not guarantee a precise 9 p.m. start. According to ESPN’s programming announcement, the rankings will be revealed between State Farm Champions Classic games. Because the show is placed within a live sports schedule, its start may shift with the preceding coverage. Viewers should check the official listing close to airtime.

How to watch in the United States

The reveal will air live on ESPN and the ESPN app in the United States. Rece Davis will host from ESPN’s Bristol studios with analysts Joey Galloway and Greg McElroy. The program is also scheduled to include an interview with selection committee chair and Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek after the rankings are announced.

Access through the ESPN app may depend on the viewer’s plan or participating television provider. ESPN says schedules are subject to change, so the latest official listing should be checked before the program.

Why this ranking does not select the field

Tuesday’s release is only the second of six rankings. The committee produces a new Top 25 each week during this period, giving teams and fans an updated view of its evaluation. A place in the top 12 on November 10 does not by itself secure a playoff berth, a home game or a first-round bye.

Only the final Selection Day ranking on December 6 will create the 12-team bracket. The official 2026–27 bracket page says the committee will also announce the matchups and game sites that day during a noon–3 p.m. ET window.

What the committee evaluates

The first ranking, released November 3, placed Miami first, followed by Georgia, Utah and Indiana. It covered games played through October 31. The CFP’s first-ranking announcement had already identified November 9–10 as the committee’s next meeting.

The committee compares each team’s overall body of work, supported by video, data and conference input. When teams appear comparable, it considers strength of schedule, head-to-head results, results against common opponents and other relevant factors, such as the unavailability of a key player or coach.

When the bracket becomes official

On Selection Day, the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC receive automatic bids. Another automatic place goes to the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 or Sun Belt. The other places are filled under the CFP’s stated rules, and Notre Dame qualifies automatically if it finishes in the final top 12.

The top four seeds receive first-round byes, while seeds 5 through 12 play at the higher seed’s home stadium. Those decisions depend on the December 6 ranking, not Tuesday’s provisional list.