Who Are the Best Players in the College Football Playoff? Ranking the Top 100 Stars in the CFP
From a Heisman-winning QB to All-American wide receivers to pass rushers poised to be top picks, the CFP is loaded with stardom. But who are the best players in the College Football Playoff?
We rank the top 100 players set to take the field in college football's postseason and breakdown the top 10 players in this year's College Football Playoff.
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🏆 Best players in the College Football Playoff: Top 10
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No. 1: Jeremiah Smith, WR (Ohio State)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Cotton Bowl - CFP quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Wednesday, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Top three (2027)
- Key stat to know: Top 10 in the country in yards per route run (3.38)
This might be the most talented wide receiver college football has seen in decades, which is why Jeremiah Smith is ranked above the Heisman Trophy winner. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman last year and led Ohio State to the national title, and even with a QB change this year, he's been just as dominant. Smith has 28 touchdowns in 28 games with the Buckeyes.
No. 2: Fernando Mendoza, QB (Indiana)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Rose Bowl - CFP quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Thursday, Jan. 1 (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Top five
- Key stat to know: No. 3 in the country in QBR (88.5)
The Heisman Trophy winner and potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft this April has exceeded all expectations at Indiana. When he arrived in Bloomington from Cal this past offseason, Fernando Mendoza was viewed as a potential first-round pick looking to bolster his stock. Now, he has the Hoosiers entering the CFP as the No. 1 seed and leads college football in TD passes (33).
No. 3: David Bailey, EDGE (Texas Tech)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Orange Bowl - CFP quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Thursday, Jan. 1 (noon ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Round 1
- Key stat to know: Leads the country in pressures (76)
If Mendoza is the best transfer in college football this season, David Bailey isn't far behind after arriving at Texas Tech from Stanford in the spring. Bailey has been the face of the Red Raiders portal spending and leads a defense capable of bringing Texas Tech a national title. The former blue-chip recruit has almost as many sacks this season (13.5) as he did in three years at Stanford (14.5).
No. 4: Arvell Reese, LB (Ohio State)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Cotton Bowl CFP - quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Wednesday, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Top five
- Key stat to know: 25 pressures, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks
Despite Ohio State losing the bulk of its starting defense from last season's national championship team to the NFL, the Buckeyes have the best defense in college football this season. That's due in large part to Arvell Reese, who many view as the top player in the upcoming NFL draft. Reese's numbers don't do him justice as the Swiss Army knife in Matt Patricia's defense.
No. 5: Dante Moore, QB (Oregon)
- CFP matchup: vs. James Madison
- How to watch: Saturday, Dec. 20 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO Max/truTV)
- NFL draft projection: Top 10
- Key stat to know: Leads the Power Four in big-time throw rate (7.9%)
Though the UCLA transfer wasn't a Heisman finalist, it's hard to argue that any QB in the country other than Mendoza is better than Dante Moore. The former five-star recruit has been better than advertised in his first season starting for Oregon. Moore's combo of poise and aggressiveness as a passer has helped the Ducks make up for several injuries to receivers.
No. 6: Rueben Bain Jr., DL (Miami)
- CFP matchup: vs. Texas A&M
- How to watch: Saturday, Dec. 20 (noon ET, ABC/ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Round 1
- Key stat to know: No. 7 in the country in pass rush win rate (23.9%)
The definition of a wrecking ball, Rueben Bain Jr., is violent and relentless as a pass rusher. Bain is the star of one of the country's best defenses, with his presence being so imposing that opposing offenses will be so focused on him that it leads to his teammates making plays. He's one of the few defenders in the College Football Playoff capable of completely changing games.
No. 7: Jacob Rodriguez, LB (Texas Tech)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Orange Bowl - CFP quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Thursday, Jan. 1 (noon ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Round 3-4
- Key stat to know: Leads the country in forced fumbles (7)
From his moustache to his peanut punches, Jacob Rodriguez has become a folk hero for Texas Tech fans. The former quarterback is as opportunistic a defender as there is in college football with his penchant for making splash plays. Rodriguez is a ball magnet, plus, he can even moonlight as Wildcat QB. And it's not often that an off-ball linebacker finishes top five in Heisman voting.
No. 8: Caleb Downs, SAF (Ohio State)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Cotton Bowl CFP - quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Wednesday, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Top 20
- Key stat to know: Allowing 50.2 NFL QB rating in coverage
One of the greatest safeties in recent college football history, Caleb Downs went from a second-team All-American as a true freshman for Nick Saban at Alabama to being a back-to-back unanimous All-American at Ohio State. He's the brains of Ohio State's elite defense, with his football IQ and instincts allowing Patricia to get extra creativity in the secondary.
No. 9: Malachi Toney, WR (Miami)
- CFP matchup: vs. Texas A&M
- How to watch: Saturday, Dec. 20 (noon ET, ABC/ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: TBD (freshman)
- Key stat to know: No. 3 in the country in YAC (623)
It's utterly insane that Malachi Toney was a three-star recruit and not even among the top 50 wide receivers in last year's recruiting rankings. The true freshman has transformed Miami's offense, and at just 18 years old, he's become a top-five wide receiver in college football. Toney has a rare blend of YAC ability and ball skills that make him a walking big play and an X-factor in the CFP.
No. 10: Carnell Tate, WR (Ohio State)
- CFP matchup: TBD (Cotton Bowl CFP - quarterfinals)
- How to watch: Wednesday, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- NFL draft projection: Top 20
- Key stat to know: 85.7% contested catch rate
It looks like Carnell Tate will continue the trend of Ohio State wide receivers going in the first round this April. The junior makes it impossible for defenses to focus solely on stopping Smith, with Tate being among the best home run-hitting wide receivers in the country. His ability to win vertically with speed and an absurd contested catch rate is like a cheat code for Julian Sayin.
⭐ Top 100 players in the College Football Playoff
| Rank | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Smith, WR | Ohio State |
| 2 | Fernando Mendoza, QB | Indiana |
| 3 | David Bailey, EDGE | Texas Tech |
| 4 | Arvell Reese, LB | Ohio State |
| 5 | Dante Moore, QB | Oregon |
| 6 | Rueben Bain Jr., DL | Miami |
| 7 | Jacob Rodriguez, LB | Texas Tech |
| 8 | Caleb Downs, SAF | Ohio State |
| 9 | Malachi Toney, WR | Miami |
| 10 | Carnell Tate, WR | Ohio State |
| 11 | Sonny Styles, LB | Ohio State |
| 12 | Cashius Howell, EDGE | Texas A&M |
| 13 | Kenyon Sadiq, TE | Oregon |
| 14 | Kayden McDonald, IDL | Ohio State |
| 15 | Francis Mauigoa, OT | Miami |
| 16 | Julian Sayin, QB | Ohio State |
| 17 | CJ Allen, LB | Georgia |
| 18 | KC Concepcion, WR | Texas A&M |
| 19 | Ty Simpson, QB | Alabama |
| 20 | Carter Smith, OT | Indiana |
| 21 | Kadyn Proctor, OT | Alabama |
| 22 | R Mason Thomas, EDGE | Oklahoma |
| 23 | Trinidad Chambliss, QB | Ole Miss |
| 24 | Elijah Sarratt, WR | Indiana |
| 25 | Omar Cooper Jr., WR | Indiana |
| 26 | Gunner Stockton, QB | Georgia |
| 27 | Germie Bernard, WR | Alabama |
| 28 | Emmanuel Pregnon, OG | Oregon |
| 29 | Kewan Lacy, RB | Ole Miss |
| 30 | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE | Miami |
| 31 | Romello Height, EDGE | Texas Tech |
| 32 | D'Angelo Ponds, CB | Indiana |
| 33 | Caden Curry, EDGE | Ohio State |
| 34 | Marcel Reed, QB | Texas A&M |
| 35 | Lee Hunter, IDL | Texas Tech |
| 36 | Dillon Thieneman, SAF | Oregon |
| 37 | Trey Zuhn III, OT | Texas A&M |
| 38 | Bray Hubbard, SAF | Alabamaa |
| 39 | Keionte Scott, CB | Miami |
| 40 | Rolijah Hardy, LB | Indiana |
| 41 | AJ Holmes Jr, IDL | Texas Tech |
| 42 | Bo Jackson, RB | Ohio State |
| 43 | Teitum Tuioti, EDGE | Oregon |
| 44 | A'Mauri Washington, IDL | Oregon |
| 45 | Behren Morton, QB | Texas Tech |
| 46 | Zabien Brown, CB | Alabama |
| 47 | Christen Miller, IDL | Georgia |
| 48 | Bryce Boettcher, LB | Oregon |
| 49 | KJ Bolden, SAF | Georgia |
| 50 | Davison Igbinosun, CB | Ohio State |
| 51 | Monroe Freeling, OT | Georgia |
| 52 | Aiden Fisher, LB | Indiana |
| 53 | Austin Siereveld, OT | Ohio State |
| 54 | Carson Beck, QB | Miami |
| 55 | Keon Sabb, SAF | Alabama |
| 56 | Mario Craver, WR | Texas A&M |
| 57 | Ryan Williams, WR | Alabama |
| 58 | Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE | Oregon |
| 59 | Jakobe Thomas, SAF | Miami |
| 60 | Deontae Lawson, LB | Alabama |
| 61 | Peyton Bowen, SAF | Oklahoma |
| 62 | Iapani Laloulu, OC | Oregon |
| 63 | Cameron Dickey, RB | Texas Tech |
| 64 | Tate Sandell, K | Oklahoma |
| 65 | LT Overton, DL (injured) | Alabama |
| 66 | Zachariah Branch, WR | Georgia |
| 67 | Taurean York, LB | Texas A&M |
| 68 | Howard Sampson, OT | Texas Tech |
| 69 | Amare Ferrell, SAF | Indiana |
| 70 | Michael Carroll, OT | Alabama |
| 71 | Jaylen McClain, SAF | Ohio State |
| 72 | Louis Moore, SAF | Indiana |
| 73 | Bear Alexander, IDL | Oregon |
| 74 | Ben Roberts, LB | Texas Tech |
| 75 | Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE | Ohio State |
| 76 | Zxavian Harris, IDL | Ole Miss |
| 77 | Isaiah Sategna III, WR | Oklahoma |
| 78 | Kam Dewberry, OG | Alabama |
| 79 | Will Lee, CB | Texas A&M |
| 80 | Tim Keenan III, IDL | Alabama |
| 81 | David Stone, IDL | Oklahoma |
| 82 | Sahir West, EDGE | James Madison |
| 83 | Santana Hopper, DL | Tulane |
| 84 | Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE | Alabama |
| 85 | Wayne Knight, RB | James Madison |
| 86 | Parker Brailsford, OC | Alabama |
| 87 | Terrance Carter Jr., TE | Texas Tech |
| 88 | Trent Hendrick, LB | James Madison |
| 89 | Brice Pollock, CB | Texas Tech |
| 90 | Shadre Hurst, OG | Tulane |
| 91 | William Echoles, IDL | Ole Miss |
| 92 | Jake Retzlaff, QB | Tulane |
| 93 | Jacob Thomas, SAF | James Madison |
| 94 | Taylor Wein, EDGE | Oklahoma |
| 95 | Nate Frazier, RB | Georgia |
| 96 | Jahiem Johnson, CB | Tulane |
| 97 | Kip Lewis, LB | Oklahoma |
| 98 | John Mateer, QB | Oklahoma |
| 99 | Caleb Douglas, WR | Texas Tech |
| T-100 | Alonza Barnett III, QB | James Madison |
| T-100 | Charlie Becker, WR | Indiana |
📊 Top 100 players in the College Football Playoff by team
| Seed | Team | Top 100 players |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 10 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 13 |
| 3 | Georgia | 7 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 12 |
| 5 | Oregon | 10 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 4 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 7 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 8 |
| 9 | Alabama | 14 |
| 10 | Miami | 7 |
| 11 | Tulane | 4 |
| 12 | James Madison | 5 |
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