Arizona Earns No. 22 CFP Ranking
Arizona enters the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season at No. 22, its second straight year in the poll.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
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Arizona is ranked No. 22 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season, released Tuesday evening. The Wildcats are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, marking their first back-to-back seasons in the rankings in program history.
Why it matters
The ranking keeps Arizona in playoff conversation in Tucson, where fans have followed a team that has not appeared in consecutive CFP rankings before. Remaining home games against TCU and Utah will shape whether the Wildcats can climb further.
Arizona's 6-2 overall and 3-2 Big 12 record earned the No. 22 spot, with its only losses coming by 8 points at BYU and 8 points at Texas Tech. The committee's full evaluation criteria for the later rankings have not been detailed in the stub.
The players
College Football Playoff Selection Committee
The committee is the group of college football leaders that selects and ranks the teams competing for the national championship playoff.
Arizona Wildcats
The University of Arizona football program, competing in the Big 12 Conference, is based in Tucson and plays its home games at Arizona Stadium.
The details
Arizona led BYU 17-14 at halftime before being shut out in the second half, and later led Texas Tech 17-10 before losing 34-26. The Wildcats host TCU on Friday night at 8:15 PM MST on ESPN.
Timeline
Week 2: Arizona lost 28-17 to BYU in Provo.
Week 9: Arizona lost 34-26 to Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Tuesday evening: CFP Selection Committee released its first rankings.
Friday, Nov. 6: Arizona hosts TCU in Tucson at 8:15 PM MST.
Nov. 14: Arizona hosts No. 3 Utah in Tucson.
Season Trajectory
Arizona has now been ranked in the CFP poll in 2025, 2023, 2017 and 2014, and a win over Utah on November 14 could position the Wildcats for serious playoff contention. The Big 12's five ranked teams place it third among conferences behind the SEC and Big Ten in this first release.
A Utah win on November 14 would sharply improve Arizona's CFP standing, while a loss would make the Wildcats' path to the playoff considerably harder. Fans planning to attend home games should note the Friday night TCU kickoff and the November 14 Utah matchup.
The takeaway
Arizona's No. 22 ranking is a foothold, but its next two home games against TCU and No. 3 Utah will determine whether the Wildcats can build on it. Following the schedule closely is the clearest way to track where the program stands.
What happens next
Arizona hosts TCU on Friday, Nov. 6 at 8:15 PM MST on ESPN, followed by a home game against No. 3 Utah on Nov. 14.
Further reading
Follow the latest Football coverage for Tucson fans tracking the Wildcats' playoff push.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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