2026 College Football Bowl Predictions: Early Picks and CFP Projections

Spring practice is buzzing across college football, and that means it’s time for some way-too-early 2026 bowl projections. Speculation? Absolutely. But who can resist a peek at the possible postseason chaos?

This year, things look even wilder at the top. The Peach, Fiesta, Rose, and Cotton Bowls are set as playoff quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Orange and Sugar Bowls will serve as the semifinals.

With 40 matchups on tap, it’s a lot to take in. Let’s poke around at the teams and storylines that might shape the 2026 bowl season, even if some of this feels like educated guesswork.

2026 Bowl Projections: A Closer Look

Seventy-eight teams are projected for bowl games. That’s a lot of football, and a handful of schools are eyeing a return to relevance after sitting out last year.

• Auburn
• Florida
• Kentucky
• Oklahoma State
• South Carolina
• Wisconsin
• Virginia Tech
• UCLA

North Carolina, for one, could bounce back. Bill Belichick shook up the quarterback room, and honestly, the schedule doesn’t look too intimidating.

Group of Six Bowl Games

The Group of Six bowls should offer some oddball fun. Here’s a quick rundown of projected matchups:

• Cure Bowl: East Carolina vs. Boise State
• Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. James Madison
• Hawaii Bowl: South Florida vs. Hawaii
• Salute to Veterans Bowl: Ohio vs. Coastal Carolina
• 68Ventures Bowl: Toledo vs. Louisiana Tech
• Xbox Bowl: Delaware vs. Georgia Southern
• Myrtle Beach Bowl: Akron vs. Western Michigan
• Boca Raton Bowl: Tulane vs. Jacksonville State
• Potato Bowl: San Diego State vs. Miami (Ohio)
• Frisco Bowl: North Texas vs. Missouri State
• New Orleans Bowl: Old Dominion vs. Kennesaw State
• New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs. FIU
• Arizona Bowl: UNLV vs. Buffalo

Power Four Teams and Key Matchups

Plenty of Power Four squads are set to make noise. Some of these matchups just feel right, don’t they?

• First Responder Bowl: Cincinnati vs. North Carolina
• Gasparilla Bowl: Auburn vs. Virginia
• Rate Bowl: Kansas State vs. Wisconsin
• GameAboveSports Bowl: Minnesota vs. Central Michigan
• Fenway Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Tulane
• Pinstripe Bowl: NC State vs. Nebraska
• Military Bowl: Navy vs. Pittsburgh
• Texas Bowl: TCU vs. South Carolina
• Independence Bowl: Arizona vs. Army
• Birmingham Bowl: Duke vs. Kentucky
• Sun Bowl: Utah vs. SMU
• Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Illinois vs. Florida State
• Liberty Bowl: Florida vs. Oklahoma State
• Music City Bowl: Missouri vs. Iowa
• Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State vs. Tennessee

Top CFP Contenders

The College Football Playoff for 2026 is shaping up to be a real fight. Some of the projected quarterfinals are:

• Peach Bowl: Miami vs. Winner of LSU vs. Ohio State
• Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Winner of Memphis vs. Texas Tech
• Cotton Bowl: Texas vs. Winner of Ole Miss vs. Oregon
• Rose Bowl: Indiana vs. Winner of USC vs. Georgia

USC’s in the CFP for the first time, which is wild. Ole Miss is back, led by Trinidad Chambliss at quarterback.

Notre Dame’s only projected slip-up is a loss to Miami, but they’re still penciled in as the No. 4 seed. Texas and Indiana round out the top, though Indiana’s path looks bumpy.

Teams to Watch

Some teams just feel like they’re simmering, waiting to break out. Here’s a handful that might surprise or disappoint (who knows?):

• Houston: Willie Fritz is steering the Cougars toward a Big 12 title shot, or at least that’s the hope.
• Louisville: Jeff Brohm’s crew could push into the playoff picture if things click.
• BYU: LJ Martin is back, and that’s always a good thing for the Cougars.
• Texas A&M: The Aggies are aiming for more after their first CFP run, but the schedule? It’s rough.
• Alabama: Kalen DeBoer’s got the pressure dialed up to eleven. The Tide can’t afford to stumble.
• Michigan: The Wolverines are the top Big Ten team outside the playoff bracket. Not exactly where they want to be, but it’s not nothing.

Teams on the Bubble

Some Power Four teams just missed the cut for preseason bowl projections. It’s a long list, and a few of these might prove everyone wrong:

• Arkansas
• Baylor
• Boston College
• California
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Michigan State
• Mississippi State
• Northwestern
• Purdue
• Rutgers
• Stanford
• Syracuse
• Wake Forest
• West Virginia
• UCF
• Vanderbilt

Conclusion

The 2026 college football bowl season is shaping up to be a wild ride. New teams are starting to surprise everyone, while the usual powerhouses are still fighting tooth and nail for the top spots.

Fans have a lot to look forward to—some of these matchups could be instant classics. If you want to check out the full list of bowl projections, the CBS Sports article has you covered.