The 2026 college football playoff field is coming into focus as national media outlets release their preseason projections for the expanded postseason tournament. According to preseason polls published by ESPN, Ohio State and Oregon anchor the top tier of the AP rankings, while analysts project a highly competitive 12-team bracket featuring multiple programs from the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12.
Preseason Rankings and Playoff Predictions
Preseason forecasts from prominent analysts highlight significant variance outside the consensus top programs. According to ESPN’s expert panel predictions, Ohio State and Notre Dame frequently occupy the top two positions on individual ballots. Kyle Bonagura places Ohio State first in his 12-team projection, followed by Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, and Georgia. Conversely, Andrea Adelson places Notre Dame at the top of her ballot, followed by Ohio State, Oregon, Miami, and Texas A&M.
Bill Connelly’s analysis points to Notre Dame as holding the highest returning production in the country, bolstered by quarterback C.J. Carr, who threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns during his 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, the transfer portal has shifted roster dynamics significantly across the country. According to roster evaluations published by ESPN, LSU, Indiana, and Texas secured the top three transfer portal classes, while USC claimed the top incoming high school recruiting class.
Expert Ballot Comparisons Across Outlets
The composition of the projected 12-team field reveals distinct tiers among national contenders, with several programs appearing consistently across multiple expert ballots. Programs such as Miami, Oregon, Texas, and Georgia appear in the vast majority of analyst projections, though exact seeding varies widely.
For instance, David Hale projects Notre Dame at No. 1 with Ohio State second, rounding out his top five with Texas, Oregon, and Miami. Eli Lederman similarly positions Notre Dame at the top of his 12-team projection, followed by Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, and Oregon. Mark Schlabach places Ohio State first, with Georgia second, Notre Dame third, and Oregon fourth. Paolo Uggetti diverges slightly at the top, opening his projection with Oregon at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, and Ohio State.
Mid-tier and bubble teams also show stark contrasts depending on the analyst. Programs such as Boise State, BYU, Texas Tech, and Tennessee frequently occupy the final spots in the 12-team bracket.
Roster Changes and SEC Shifts
Coaching changes and conference realignment continue to drive offseason narratives as teams prepare for the upcoming schedule. LSU enters the season with a new head coach in Lane Kiffin, a transition that has drawn considerable attention from national analysts evaluating the SEC championship race.
