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| Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State |
(Note: These rankings reflect where I expect teams to finish, not how I rank them entering the preseason.)
1. Oregon Ducks -- Dan Lanning's program has been among the most dominant in all of the land since his arrival, but the Ducks are still on the hunt for elusive postseason success. Now, he has a team with a core that all said to the NFL to run it back for a shot at the National Title, including Heisman frontrunner Dante Moore, several key position players, and nearly the entire D-Line. Surviving the unforgiving Big Ten will help this team build the armor they need to finish the job this time around.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- The Irish were a notable Playoff snub last winter, but they have all the looks of a team that will cruise this time around. Quarterback C.J. Carr, elite line play, and perhaps the nation's best secondary put Notre Dame in position for their best season since the turn of the century.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes -- The shocking loss to Miami in last year's Playoff indicated there is still work to be done in Columbus if they want to stay on top of the college football world. Fortunately, this year's Buckeyes team has perhaps the nation's best QB-WR combo in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, plus one of the country's most talented freshman in Chris Henry Jr.
4. Georgia Bulldogs -- The machine in Athens keeps on running, as Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have won 11 or more games each full season for a decade straight. Don't expect that to stop in 2026, as Georgia looks to be the team to beat in the SEC. A veteran QB and loaded defense is all Kirby needs to build a National Title favorite.
5. Texas Longhorns -- The pressure is on for Steve Sarkisian at Texas. Arch Manning is in his second full season as starter. The Longhorns spent huge in the portal, including landing one of the best on the market in Cam Coleman. And then there were the staff moves, with Will Muschamp making his triumphant return as defensive coordinator. If this team can survive one of the nation's toughest schedules, a deep postseason run feels like it's in the cards.
6. Miami Hurricanes -- The breakthrough finally arrived in Coral Gables last winter. How do they build on it? Bringing on Darian Mensah at quarterback was quite the statement, and a likely upgrade at the game's most important position. He'll throw to one of the nation's most electric playmakers, Malachi Toney, who is on the cusp of superstardom. The 'Canes should dominate a middling ACC and enter the Playoff as a true title contender.
7. Indiana Hoosiers -- Nobody is overlooking the Hoosiers now after putting together one of the most
impressive single seasons in college football history. The program clearly has no intentions of stopping given their work in the portal, and they've further bolstered a defense by re-adding defensive ends Stephon Daley and Kellan Wyatt (if they are indeed ruled eligible).8. Texas Tech Red Raiders -- A hectic offseason aside, Texas Tech is by far and away the most loaded roster in the Big 12. The program is spending like one that wants to seriously contend for National Titles, and it shows in their two-deep. And now they look to have found a solution to their greatest question mark - quarterback - by adding the newly eligible Tommy Castellanos late in the process.
9. Ole Miss Rebels -- Pete Golding will have his work cut out for him continuing the success Lane Kiffin enjoyed in Oxford, but the 2026 team is still loaded. Trinidad Chambliss may be the best quarterback in the country, and Kewan Lacy is a Doak Walker Award favorite. The schedule provides no favors, but it also provides the Rebels likely a couple of losses they can spare and still make their return to the Playoff.
10. Texas A&M Aggies -- Last season was the type of season Texas A&M fans have been waiting on - until it wasn't. The Aggies lost their final two games of the year, knocking them out of the SEC Championship Game and sending them home from the Playoff early. The 2026 team has a chance to right those wrongs, with a veteran QB, elite wide out in Mario Craver, and loads of talent on defense.
11. BYU Cougars -- Kalani Sitake stayed put in Provo after flirting with the Penn State job, and he's blessed with a BYU team that has a chance to make a run at the Big 12 Title. Bear Bachmeier and L.J. Martin form an elite 1-2 punch in the backfield, and the addition of transfer linebacker Cade Uluave elevates a defense that saw coordinator Jay Hill depart for Michigan.
12. Alabama Crimson Tide -- Kalen DeBoer is out to prove himself in the ever-important Year Three. The Tide got back to the CFB Playoff last season, but still have a ways to go if they want to return to their National Title level. The two-deep is still loaded with elite talent, but new quarterback Keelon Russell will have to learn quickly if this team is to hit their ceiling.
13. Michigan Wolverines -- As nasty as the end to the Sherrone Moore, it's likely a positive for Michigan football moving forward. Kyle Whittingham is an upgrade at head coach, and made quite the statement this offseason by bringing his OC with him and stealing Jay Hill away. He'll have a tremendous 1-2 punch in the backfield to lead the way, but can Bryce Underwood take the next step?
14. LSU Tigers -- LSU got their guy by poaching Lane Kiffin away from a fellow SEC rival. Lane was unsurprisingly busy this offseason, and landed one of the top quarterbacks in the portal (Sam Leavitt) and by far and away the best offensive tackle (Jordan Seaton). This team will almost certainly be much improved after a rough 2025, but it may take a year or two before things really get rolling in Baton Rouge.
15. USC Trojans -- The Trojans landed the nation's top high school recruiting class and made some splashy moves in the portal - is it enough for a breakthrough season? This team screams potential, but they must also deal with perhaps the toughest schedule in the nation, one that includes Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana.
16. Oklahoma Sooners -- Remember when the Sooners could not stop anyone in the Lincoln Riley years? Brent Venables has built this side of the ball into one of the best anywhere in the country, now it's the offense's turn to step up. John Mateer is back and looks to be healthy, but Oklahoma needs to find a running game if they are to contend in the brutal SEC.
17. Houston Cougars -- Few coaches in all of FBS football are as good as building programs as Willie Fritz, and he has done in quickly at Houston. The Cougars won ten games last fall, and have a veteran QB, elite receiver, and a running back ready for a resurgence after a quiet 2025. Add in the nation's top overall recruit in the Class of 2026, Keisean Henderson, the Cougars have the talent to make a run in the Big 12.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions -- Matt Campbell essentially just took his entire Iowa State team with him from last year to Happy Valley, not a bad formula given how much success the Cyclones have had. Yet, what's most exciting for Penn State's 2026 prospects is a schedule that will miss Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and Iowa in the league. The Nittany Lions may not even be the best versions of themselves, and could still win 9-10 games.
19. New Mexico Lobos -- Things set up perfectly for New Mexico to crash the CFB Playoff party in 2026. They return the most productivity in the Mountain West and are now in a conference that is without several of their top programs, namely Boise State. The loss of veteran QB Jack Layne for the year is a real blow, but the hope is that former Oregon transfer Luke Moga can be the answer. 11-1 is a real possibility, with the lone loss likely on the road to Oklahoma.
20. Clemson Tigers -- Can Dabo Swinney reverse the negative direction Clemson has been heading for some time now? The 2026 team will have lowered expectations, which feels like a good thing. The offense has real potential, and the defense still has some pieces to love, namely linebacker Sammy Brown. With how weak the ACC is, the Tigers have no excuse not to be in 8-9 win territory.
21. Iowa Hawkeyes -- The ever-steady Hawkeyes are going to be a tough out once more, even without a clear starter at quarterback. The ground game will be as good as ever, and wide out Tony Diaz has been receiving rave reviews after coming over from UT-Rio Grande Valley. If things break right, Iowa could make their first Playoff run in program history.
22. Tennessee Volunteers -- Tennessee feels like a team being overlooked heading into 2026, likely because they are starting a freshman quarterback. That QB just happens to be highly touted Faizon Brandon, and he has a lot of talent around him. On the defensive end, Jim Knowles was one of the shrewdest assistant hires in the country, and should turn around a defense that surrendered nearly 29 points per game last fall.
23. Arizona Wildcats -- After a rough debut, Brent Brennan turned things around quickly in the desert last season. The Wildcats have a chance to build off that, with the return of quarterback Noah Fifita, and several key pieces on defense. They were another program hoping to have some late offseason additions by ruled eligible, namely tailback Ismail Mahdi and linebacker Blake Harris.
24. Boise State Broncos -- Life in the new-look Pac-12 begins, and the Broncos will be good right out of the gate. Veteran Maddux Madsen will guide the offense, which also includes star back Dylan Riley. The defense is led by edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan, and has a chance to be even better in 2026.
25. Washington Huskies -- Could Year Three be the breakout year for Jedd Fisch in Seattle? He has his quarterback back, even after Demond Williams flirted with transferring elsewhere. The defense also has nice pieces, namely at linebacker. But identifying new playmakers at the skill positions and handling a treacherous road schedule will determine this team's fate.
Just Missed the Cut: Louisville Cardinals, Utah Utes, Navy Midshipmen, Illinois Fighting Illini, UNLV Rebels
College Football Playoff Projection
First Round
5 Ohio State Buckeyes over 12 New Mexico Lobos
6 Texas Tech Red Raiders over 11 BYU Cougars
7 Texas Longhorns over 10 Texas A&M Aggies
8 Indiana Hoosiers over 9 Ole Miss Rebels
Byes: (1) Notre Dame Fighting Irish, (2) Oregon Ducks, (3) Georgia Bulldogs, (4) Miami Hurricanes
Second Round
1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish over 8 Indiana Hoosiers
2 Oregon Ducks over 7 Texas Longhorns
3 Georgia Bulldogs over 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders
5 Ohio State Buckeyes over 4 Miami Hurricanes
Semifinals
1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish over 5 Ohio State Buckeyes
2 Oregon Ducks over 3 Georgia Bulldogs
National Championship
2 Oregon Ducks over 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Conference Predictions
ACC Championship Game: Miami over Clemson
American Championship Game: Navy over Memphis
Big Ten Championship Game: Oregon over Ohio State
Big 12 Championship Game: Texas Tech over BYU
C-USA Championship Game: Jacksonville State over Western Kentucky
MAC Championship Game: Western Michigan over Ohio
Mountain West Championship Game: New Mexico over UNLV
Pac-12 Championship Game: Boise State over Texas State
SEC Championship Game: Georgia over Texas
Sun Belt Championship Game: Marshall over Troy
Awards
Heisman: Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia (winner); C.J. Carr, QB, Notre Dame (finalist); Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (finalist); Brad Jackson, QB, Texas State (finalist)
Walker (best RB): Jadan Baugh, Florida (winner); Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (finalist); Dylan Riley, Boise State (finalist)
Biletnikoff (best WR): Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (winner); Mario Craver, Texas A&M (finalist); Duce Robinson, Florida State (finalist)
Mackey (best TE): Lawson Luckie, Georgia (winner); Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech (finalist): Ben Brahmer, Penn State (finalist)
Hendricks (best DE): John Henry Daley, Michigan (winner); Colin Simmons, Texas (finalist); Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State (finalist)
Butkus (best LB): Cade Uluave, BYU (winner); Sammy Brown, Clemson (finalist); Whit Weeks, LSU (finalist)
Throrpe (best DB): Koi Perich, Oregon (winner); Dezz Ricks, Texas A&M (finalist); Zach Lutmer, Iowa (finalist)
Groza (best K): Tate Sandell, Oklahoma (winner); Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech (finalist); Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss (finalist)
Guy (best P): Evan Crenshaw, Troy (winner); Bailey Ettridge, Oregon (finalist); Palmer Williams, Baylor (finalist)
Coach of the Year: Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame (winner); Jason Eck, New Mexico (finalist); Kalani Sitake, BYU (finalist)
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