UCLA is 9-0. The CFP committee is running out of excuses to disrespect it

UCLA has reached a 9‑0 record for the first time since 1998 and climbed to No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, the highest ranking for the Bruins since their 2001 team also sat at No. 4, Reuters reported. The poll, released Sunday, also placed Georgia at No. 1 and Utah at No. 2, while the Big Ten’s other representatives include Indiana at No. 6 and USC at No. 15, according to the Los Angeles Times.

First‑year head coach Bob Chesney, who urged his players to ignore all rankings, guided the Bruins to a quality 34‑20 win over Minnesota, a victory that kept UCLA as the only undefeated team in the Big Ten, Yahoo Sports noted. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach threw for 303 yards, completing eight of 16 passes, with 150 yards coming in the final quarter, and connected with Aiden Mizell on consecutive 75‑yard touchdown passes. Running back Wayne Knight added 109 rushing yards on 18 carries and recorded his 15th touchdown of the season, scoring in every game so far.

Despite the AP jump, the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings placed UCLA at No. 8, prompting criticism that the committee is “running out of excuses to disrespect” the Bruins, as USA Today headlined. The New York Times added that “Nobody believes in UCLA’s CFP credentials,” underscoring the disconnect between poll perception and playoff positioning.

UCLA’s schedule now includes three more games. The next contest is against Illinois on Nov. 133 at the LA Memorial Coliseum, followed by a matchup with Michigan the following week, and a season‑ending rivalry game against USC, Yahoo Sports reported. USC, which moved up to No. 15 in the AP poll, remains a direct competitor for a potential CFP spot, having benefited from a bye week and wins over Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

The Bruins’ rise also makes them the highest‑ranked Big Ten team in the current poll. While Georgia retained the No. 1 spot with a dominant 42‑7 win over Mississippi, and Utah achieved its highest regular‑season AP ranking at No. 2 after a 28‑20 victory over BYU, UCLA’s performance has kept the conversation about CFP inclusion alive. The team’s next three games will determine whether the Bruins can maintain their unbeaten streak and force the playoff committee to reassess their standing.