---
title: "Los Angeles’ UCLA Reaches No. 4 in Playoff Rankings"
url: https://www.herelosangeles.com/2026/11/11/ucla-reaches-no-4-college-football-playoff-ranking/
date: 2026-11-11T15:33:14-08:00
modified: 2026-11-11T15:33:14-08:00
author: "Daniela Barnes"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Los Angeles"
attribution: "HERE Los Angeles"
---

# Los Angeles’ UCLA Reaches No. 4 in Playoff Rankings

> LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles’ undefeated UCLA has posted its best-ever showing in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Bruins moved up four spots to No. 4 in the committee’s top 25 released Tuesday night, and at 9-0 they are one of only two unbeaten teams left in the country, along with Utah. The

*Source: [HERE Los Angeles](https://www.herelosangeles.com/2026/11/11/ucla-reaches-no-4-college-football-playoff-ranking/) — November 11, 2026 by Daniela Barnes*

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles’ undefeated UCLA has posted its best-ever showing in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Bruins moved up four spots to No. 4 in the committee’s top 25 released Tuesday night, and at 9-0 they are one of only two unbeaten teams left in the country, along with Utah.

The rise follows a 34-20 win at Minnesota. The Bruins have never reached the playoff and have never topped 10 victories in a year. They have not started 9-0 since 1998 and had not been in the top five since 2001. First-year coach Bob Chesney has urged his players to ignore the rankings until the playoff and bowl matchups are set, and he has said he had to persuade them that they could change the story of the program.

The Bruins have done it while absorbing a major loss. Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava went down for the year during a Week 6 victory at Oregon, and Ty Dieffenbach has kept the team unbeaten since. Chesney, who led James Madison into the playoff last year, said he does not care how big the field is. The playoff will expand from 12 teams to 24 beginning in 2027, a change that was welcomed in Westwood.

The rest of the top four are Georgia at No. 1, Utah at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 3. Crosstown rival USC, now 7-2, moved up two spots to No. 18 after a bye week. UCLA hosts Illinois on Friday, plays at Michigan on Nov. 21 and then closes its regular season against USC at the Rose Bowl. USC’s Saturday assignment is a road game at No. 9 Indiana, and Maryland comes to town Nov. 21. The committee will release rankings every week through Selection Sunday on Dec. 6, when the field is announced.