Miami Leads Preseason Bowl Projections with Big Ten and SEC in Contention

As the 2026 college football season creeps closer, the buzz around bowl games and the College Football Playoff (CFP) is pretty intense right now. Win-loss projections for 138 FBS teams across 10 conferences are already floating around, and folks can’t help but start mapping out the postseason chaos.

This year’s 12-team playoff format—five automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champs and seven at-large bids—means contenders have a little more breathing room. Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame are grabbing early headlines, but there are a few sneaky dark horses lurking in the shadows, waiting to shake things up.

Let’s dig into the projected matchups, teams that might surprise us, and the winding road to the national championship. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see some real shocks this time.

Projected College Football Playoff Teams

The 2026 season looks wild, with several heavyweights battling for a playoff spot. The preseason projections have a few teams standing out above the rest:

• Miami (13-0): The Hurricanes are predicted to run the table, boosted by key transfer portal pickups, a manageable schedule, and Mario Cristobal sticking around.
• Oregon (12-1): The Ducks are expected to rule the Pac-12, dropping only one regular season game.
• Georgia (12-1): The Bulldogs look like a solid bet for a deep playoff run.
• Notre Dame (11-1): The Irish are set for a strong year, with just one loss—against Miami, apparently.
• Texas (11-2): The Longhorns should be in the mix, even with a couple of bumps along the way.
• Texas Tech (12-1): The Red Raiders are pegged to take the Big 12 and could be a real playoff threat.

Key Matchups to Watch

Some games are just circled on every fan’s calendar. Here are a few that could shape the whole season:

• Miami at Notre Dame (Nov. 7): This one could decide who stays unbeaten and grabs that top ranking. You can almost feel the tension already.
• LSU at Ohio State (Dec. 18): Ohio Stadium in Columbus will be rocking for this one, and both teams will be desperate for a statement win.
• BYU at Indiana (Dec. 19): Bloomington isn’t usually the center of the college football universe, but this year, it might be for a day.
• SMU at Texas Tech (Dec. 19): Lubbock will be loud—this one could swing the playoff door open for somebody.
• UNLV at Texas (Dec. 19): Austin gets the spotlight as these two face off in a game with real stakes.

Other Bowl Projections

Of course, it’s not all about the playoff. Projections are out for every bowl-eligible team, and some of these matchups look pretty fun, honestly. There’s always a clash or two you wouldn’t expect between Power Four and Group of Six teams.

Notable Bowl Games

Some bowl games just have that extra buzz. Here’s what the projections are tossing out there:

• Peach Bowl (Jan. 1, 2027): Miami vs. Ohio State
• Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30, 2026): Oregon vs. Indiana
• Cotton Bowl (Jan. 1, 2027): Georgia vs. Texas Tech
• Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, 2027): Notre Dame vs. Texas

Group of Six and Other Bowl Games

The Group of Six teams aren’t left out of the party. Here’s a handful of their projected matchups:

• Air Force vs. FAU
• Georgia Southern vs. Washington State
• Coastal Carolina vs. Western Michigan
• Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State
• South Florida vs. Florida

Surprise Contenders and Disappointments

Every season, some teams come out of nowhere, while others just fall flat. If AP poll history tells us anything, it’s that at least one preseason top-10 team will probably end up unranked. You just never know who’s going to stumble—or shock us all.

Potential Dark Horses

There’s always a team or two that nobody saw coming. This year, a couple of names stand out:

• UNLV (12-1): The Rebels could sneak in as an auto-bid, maybe even knocking out bigger names like USC or Ole Miss if they slip up.
• SMU (11-2): With 11 wins, SMU could grab that last playoff spot over a few three-loss Power Four teams. Wouldn’t that be something?

Teams to Watch

These teams might not be favorites, but don’t count them out just yet:

• Ohio State (10-3): The Buckeyes are always dangerous. They could get hot and crash the playoff party.
• LSU (10-2): The Tigers have the firepower to make a run if things break their way.
• BYU (11-2): The Cougars could be a real surprise—watch out for them.

Conclusion

The 2026 college football season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With a 12-team playoff format and plenty of key matchups, fans are in for a wild ride.

There’s just something electric about the unknowns this year. If you’re looking for more projections and in-depth analysis, take a look at the full article on CBS Sports.