LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Noah Fifita #1 of the Arizona Wildcats passes the ball during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 31: Noah Fifita #1 of the Arizona Wildcats passes the ball during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Galaxy Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images · Getty Images

It didn’t take long for Arizona football’s name to be called in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

Arizona is ranked No. 22 in this week’s CFP poll, with a pivotal matchup against No. 3 Utah looming if the Wildcats can first get by TCU this Friday.

The rankings are an indication of where the 13-member CFP selection committee views Arizona through Week 9 of the college football season.

Arizona (6-2) is coming off a loss to Texas Tech, the No. 15 ranked team in the CFP poll. The Wildcats’ other loss is to BYU, who is ranked No. 9.

Had the Wildcats won either of those games, they would be in position to potentially earn an at-large berth to the CFP. Instead, Arizona’s only realistic path to the 12-team playoff would be to sneak into the Big 12 Championship game.

Arizona can help its case in both the CFP rankings and the Big 12 standings if it beats TCU and then finds a way to upset Utah in Tucson on Nov. 14. The Utes are 8-0 heading into an enormous rivalry game at BYU.

Three other former Pac-12 schools are ranked: No. 8 UCLA, No. 20 USC and No. 23 Oregon, all of the Big Ten.

Here are the full rankings:

Source: Yahoo Sports