5 College Football Teams Likely to Miss 2026 Playoff Spots
Anticipation is already building for the next college football season. Fans and analysts are tossing around predictions about which teams might snag a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
With the playoff expanding to 12 teams, the competition is, honestly, a bit wild. Some programs are already staring down some pretty big obstacles, though.
According to FanSided, five teams in particular—USC, Michigan, Oklahoma, Clemson, and Texas Tech—are looking at some tough odds of making the cut. Let’s take a closer look at what’s stacking up against these squads, from rough schedules to roster drama and everything in between.
Contents
USC: High Expectations Amidst a Tough Schedule
USC is rolling into this season with sky-high expectations, maybe more than anyone else. Head coach Lincoln Riley is under a lot of pressure to deliver a CFP berth.
They’ve got a star quarterback and a roster that looks ready for a title run. But wow, their schedule is brutal.
Key Matchups
The Trojans have to get through a gauntlet: Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana are all on the docket. Just one or two stumbles here, and their playoff hopes could vanish fast.
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Indiana
Honestly, it’s tough to picture USC escaping this stretch with fewer than two losses. The road to the CFP looks pretty treacherous for them.
Michigan: Offensive Woes and a New Coach
Michigan isn’t catching any breaks either. Their schedule is a nightmare, with Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, and a non-conference clash against Oklahoma in Week 2.
On top of that, they’re switching things up at head coach, swapping out Sherrone Moore for Kyle Whittingham. That’s a lot to juggle in one offseason.
Offensive Struggles
The Wolverines’ offense is, well, not exactly inspiring confidence. Sure, Texas transfer Jaime Ffrench Jr. is in the mix, but outside of five-star QB Bryce Underwood, the supporting cast looks thin.
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma (non-conference)
Michigan’s always been solid running the ball, but their passing attack just hasn’t kept pace. If they don’t figure it out, it’s hard to imagine them making a real playoff run.
Oklahoma: A Grueling Road Ahead
Oklahoma squeezed into the CFP last year, but repeating that trick? Not so easy this time.
The Sooners have a schedule that’s just packed with landmines: road trips to Georgia and Michigan, a home game with Ole Miss, and another showdown with Texas on neutral turf.
Key Challenges
Every week feels like a potential trap for Oklahoma. Even if they only drop a couple games, there’s bound to be debate about whether they belong in the playoff.
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ole Miss
- Texas (neutral site)
- Florida
- Texas A&M
Quarterback John Mateer is coming back from a hand injury and needs to raise his game. Still, with this schedule, it’s a long shot for the Sooners to make it in.
Clemson: A Rebuilding Year
Clemson’s in the middle of a rebuild, plain and simple. They’ll be competitive in the ACC, but an at-large CFP bid? That’s a tall order.
Last season was rough—they blew a 17-point lead and bowed out in the first round of the playoff. That stings.
Roster Concerns
Quarterback Christopher Vizzina is still a bit of a question mark. The offense needs a major boost, or this year could look a lot like the last one.
Even if they pull off an ACC title, the overall roster just doesn’t stack up against the elite teams right now.
Texas Tech: Quarterback Issues
Texas Tech’s season took a hit before it even started. The guy who landed a rumored $5 million NIL deal—yeah, he’s probably not playing after some gambling issues surfaced this spring.
The Red Raiders are scrambling at quarterback now. It’s not a great situation.
Quarterback Dilemma
Will Hammond is still rehabbing from an ACL tear, and the team missed out on some other QB options. The outlook is pretty grim.
- Brendan Sorsby (gambling issues)
- Will Hammond (ACL injury)
Without a reliable quarterback, Texas Tech’s playoff hopes are fading fast. It’s tough to see them making any real noise this year.
Conclusion
The road to the College Football Playoff is anything but smooth for USC, Michigan, Oklahoma, Clemson, and Texas Tech. Every one of these teams is staring down a different set of problems that could throw a wrench in their playoff dreams.
Some are up against brutal schedules. Others are dealing with roster shakeups or the headache of new coaching staff.
Honestly, nobody really knows how it’ll all shake out. Maybe one or two of these teams will surprise us, or maybe not—but that’s half the fun, isn’t it?
