Missouri Ranked No. 18 in First CFP Rankings
The Tigers open the College Football Playoff committee's season ranking at No. 18 with a 6-2 record and two road losses in SEC play.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
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Should a two-loss SEC team like Missouri get a College Football Playoff spot?
The College Football Playoff committee released its first rankings of the season on Tuesday, placing Missouri at No. 18. The Tigers hold a 6-2 record, with a 3-2 mark in SEC play.
Why it matters
Missouri is the lowest-ranked of the six two-loss SEC teams in the committee's first reveal. The committee's placement shapes how the Tigers' remaining schedule will be weighed for playoff consideration.
The committee placed Missouri at No. 18, while the Tigers were No. 19 in the coaches and AP polls released November 1. Georgia sits at No. 2 with one loss, and South Carolina is No. 21 with three losses.
The players
College Football Playoff Committee
The selection body that ranks the top teams and determines the four-team national playoff field each season.
The details
Missouri's two losses came on the road in Mississippi, including a one-score defeat at Mississippi State and a blowout at Arkansas on October 17. The Tigers' wins include a 3-2 SEC record and Power-conference victories over Texas A&M, Arkansas and Kansas, along with a October 3 win over then-top-10 Florida.
Timeline
October 3: Missouri beats Florida, then ranked in the top 10.
October 17: Missouri is blown out at Arkansas.
November 1: Missouri is ranked No. 19 in the coaches and AP polls.
November 3: The CFP committee releases its first rankings on ESPN.
November 7: Missouri hosts Texas in Columbia.
Season Trajectory
The committee's first reveal sets the baseline for the playoff race, and Missouri must climb into the top 11 to reach the field. Because one spot is guaranteed to a Group of Six team, the Tigers face a narrower path than their SEC rivals.
Missouri must climb from No. 18 into the top 11 to qualify for the playoff, so each remaining SEC game carries direct ranking consequences. Fans tracking the race should watch the November 7 Texas game in Columbia, which the committee will weigh in its next update.
The takeaway
The committee's first ranking places Missouri at a clear disadvantage relative to the SEC's other two-loss teams, so the Tigers must win out and climb steadily to earn a playoff spot.
What happens next
Missouri hosts Texas in Columbia on November 7, and the CFP committee will release updated rankings before Selection Sunday on December 6.
Further reading
For the full season picture, see Football coverage of Missouri's playoff chances.
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Should a two-loss SEC team like Missouri get a College Football Playoff spot?
