As the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings have been released and updated, there is no doubt that many in the sports world will have their own reactions, though Kirk Herbstreit takes a different approach. While the CFP rankings will always feature stunning drops and shocking rises, Herbstreit is confident that everything will fall into place over time.

Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” the self-titled host would ask the college football analyst about the latest CFP rankings on Thursday, asking if he's surprised by any of the placements. Herbstreit would downplay it, saying that he's “learned” not to get “alarmed” by the CFP rankings this early on.

“I've learned over the years not to really get alarmed by these first two or three, four weeks of these rankings,” Herbstreit said. “When we were first going through it, especially when it was four teams, I think it was very obvious and easy to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, how is this team ranked here?' And now I feel like, and it makes you wonder about what the future will be with 24. I just think that eventually it'll work itself out.”

"I've learned over the years not to really get alarmed by these first two, or three, four weeks of these rankings."@KirkHerbstreit weighs in on the current CFP rankings 👀 pic.twitter.com/y7xkD5wI8N

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 12, 2026

Kirk Herbstreit continues on the CFP rankings

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As some in the sports world were shocked to see teams like the Indiana football team down to No. 9 or the Miami Hurricanes drop to No. 7 after being at the very top, Herbstreit pays no mind. He does believe that controversy will come by the end, such as when Notre Dame was left out with the Alabama Crimson Tide going in.

“Right now, there are people who are anti-SEC,” Herbstreit said. “No matter what they do, they're up in arms that UCLA is undefeated, Alabama is ahead of them. You wonder with teams like Oregon, South Carolina, and USC, maybe even an LSU, go all the way down to 23. If some of these teams were to win out just because of who they're playing and the opportunity to impress the committee, that could become something that becomes a sticky point.”

It remains to be seen how the conversation will be surrounding the CFB rankings.