INDIANA – The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee released its first rankings of the 2024 season on Tuesday night, and Indiana and Notre Dame are making waves. Both teams from the Hoosier State have earned spots in the top 10, marking a significant achievement for Indiana football.
The unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers (9-0) have been ranked No. 8, their highest-ever position in the CFP rankings. This historic start is the first time in school history that Indiana has opened the season with a perfect 9-0 record. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have been dominant in every game, winning by double digits, and the No. 8 ranking surpasses their previous best of No. 11 in the final CFP rankings of 2020.
“To be ranked this high is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our players and coaches,” Cignetti said following the announcement. “We’re not done yet — we know the challenges ahead of us, but we’re excited for the opportunity to continue to prove ourselves on the field.”
Meanwhile, Notre Dame (7-1) holds the No. 10 spot, a position they were also assigned in the most recent AP poll released Sunday. The Fighting Irish have battled back from a surprising Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois, steadily climbing the rankings as they gained momentum through the season. Under head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has been a force in recent weeks, and with their lone loss behind them, the Irish are poised for a strong finish.
“This ranking reflects our team’s resilience and determination,” Freeman said in a statement. “We’ve faced adversity, but our focus remains on continuing to improve and compete at the highest level.”
At the top of the rankings, unbeaten Oregon (9-0) was selected No. 1, tying Indiana atop the Big Ten standings. The Ducks have been exceptional all season, and their impressive resume earned them the top spot in the first CFP rankings. Oregon is followed by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Miami, and No. 5 Texas, rounding out the top five.
The release of the CFP rankings sets the stage for the final month of the regular season, as teams vie for a spot in the four-team playoff. For both Indiana and Notre Dame, the path to the postseason is still wide open, but with their high rankings, both schools are in prime position to make a deep run.
College Football Playoff rankings – Nov. 5
| Teams | Record |
| 1. Oregon | 9-0 |
| 2. Ohio State | 7-1 |
| 3. Georgia | 7-1 |
| 4. Miami | 9-0 |
| 5. Texas | 7-1 |
| 6. Penn State | 7-1 |
| 7. Tennessee | 7-1 |
| 8. Indiana | 9-0 |
| 9. BYU | 8-0 |
| 10. Notre Dame | 7-1 |
| 11. Alabama | 6-2 |
| 12. Boise State | 7-1 |
| 13. SMU | 8-1 |
| 14. Texas A&M | 7-2 |
| 15. LSU | 6-2 |
| 16. Ole Miss | 7-2 |
| 17. Iowa State | 7-1 |
| 18. Pittsburgh | 7-1 |
| 19. Kansas State | 7-2 |
| 20. Colorado | 6-2 |
| 21. Washington State | 7-1 |
| 22. Louisville | 6-3 |
| 23. Clemson | 6-2 |
| 24. Missouri | 6-2 |
| 25. Army | 8-0 |
The four first-round games will be played at the home campus of the higher-seeded teams on Dec. 20 and 21. The four quarterfinal games will be staged at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl presented by Prudential, and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
The two semifinal games will take place at the Capital One Orange Bowl and Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9 and 10.
The CFP National Championship presented by AT&T is scheduled for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
