Too-Early College Football Playoff Predictions: Miami, Notre Dame, USC Sleeper

The dog days of summer are here, and with them come the first whispers about the College Football Playoff (CFP) season. In a recent episode of SEC Football Unfiltered, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams from the USA TODAY Network rolled out their picks for the 2026 CFP bracket.

Each host picked six teams, no repeats, no vetoes. The list mixes big-name favorites with a few eyebrow-raising wild cards. It’s shaping up to be a season worth watching, if you ask me.

Top Contenders for the 2026 CFP

Adams and Toppmeyer started off with some pretty safe bets, making sure the major conferences got their due. Here’s how their opening picks shook out:

Miami

Adams selects: Miami

Toppmeyer’s reaction: I like it. We’ve got the ACC covered, with the obvious choice, right out of the gates.

Miami looks like a real contender from the ACC. They’ve got a manageable schedule and some serious talent on the roster. If they can keep it together, they’re in the mix.

Notre Dame

Toppmeyer selects: Notre Dame

Adams’ reaction: Good pick. That schedule is tailor-made for playoff qualification.

Notre Dame’s always lurking. Their schedule lines up nicely, and they know how to win when it counts. Not much to argue with here.

SEC and Big Ten Dominance

SEC and Big Ten teams make up a big chunk of the bracket. Each conference gets four spots, which, honestly, feels about right given the talent pool.

Georgia

Adams selects: Georgia

Toppmeyer’s reaction: Georgia is the safest bet from the SEC. This is Georgia’s best squad since 2023, and the schedule breaks nicely.

Georgia’s roster is stacked and their schedule isn’t too punishing. If you’re betting on someone from the SEC, they’re the obvious pick.

Ohio State

Toppmeyer selects: Ohio State

Adams’ reaction: This mirrors my pick of Texas — the schedule is a bear, but the team is good enough to handle it.

Ohio State faces a tough road, but they’ve got the depth to handle it. They’re just built different, year after year.

Intriguing Wild Cards

Not every pick was a chalk favorite. Adams and Toppmeyer threw in some wild cards that could shake things up.

Texas Tech

Adams selects: Texas Tech

Toppmeyer’s reaction: I saw you worrying that I’d pick Brigham Young if you didn’t hurry and lock in Big 12 choice. I might’ve done it, too. Without Brendan Sorsby playing for Texas Tech, I think it’s a coin flip between Tech and BYU, but I’m OK with this.

Texas Tech is a bit of a gamble, but they’ve got a balanced squad. Could they surprise people? Maybe. That’s half the fun.

Indiana

Toppmeyer selects: Indiana

Adams’ reaction: Three playoff bids in a row for Indiana? Believe it. Believe in Curt Cignetti.

Indiana keeps sneaking into the playoff conversation. Coach Curt Cignetti seems to know what he’s doing, and they’ve handled pressure before.

Controversial Picks and Reactions

Some picks definitely sparked debate between the hosts. Not everyone was on board with every choice.

LSU

Adams selects: LSU

Toppmeyer’s reaction: I think LSU is going to land in the 9-3 to 10-2 range. Is Sam Leavitt going to be back to form? If he’s healthy and thriving, I feel better about this pick, but any pick is a risk at this stage.

LSU’s fate seems tied to Sam Leavitt’s health. There’s talent, no question, but it’s a bit of a question mark right now.

Southern Cal

Adams selects: Southern Cal

Toppmeyer’s reaction: Noooooooo. You blew it! There goes our perfect bracket. This pick shocks me. Actually, no it doesn’t. You got sucked in by USC, once again. Sure, a lot of talent returns, and maybe Gary Patterson will improve the defense, but look at the schedule. It includes: Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana. Too much schedule.

USC’s pick got a strong reaction. The schedule is brutal, no way around it. Maybe the talent wins out, but that’s a tall order.

Group of Six Qualifier

The hosts also made room for a Group of Six qualifier. Gotta keep things interesting, right?

Boise State

Toppmeyer selects: Boise State

Adams: *A reasonable pick for our Group of Six qualifier, but what if Oregon steamrolls Boise State in the opener?

I might like UNLV as much, if not more, than Boise State.*

Boise State’s inclusion as the Group of Six qualifier highlights their potential to make waves in the CFP.

Still, their performance against strong opponents like Oregon will be crucial in determining their playoff fate.

To explore more about these predictions and the detailed analysis behind each pick, check out the full article on USA TODAY.