The Oklahoma Sooners will return to the College Football Playoff in 2026. OU will again have one of the best defenses in the country, a much better offense and experience all around. The biggest argument against that is a tough schedule, but not only will it end up not being as daunting as some believe, the Sooners are also good enough to beat everyone on their schedule, no matter how difficult.
Now that we've established the Sooners will be in the 12-team CFP, who will join them and how will the bracket unfold?
Projected 12-team CFP field
The Oregon Ducks have everything to be the best team in the country between talent and coaching, plus the schedule to prove themselves with solid non-conference matchups against Boise State and Oklahoma State and a loaded Big Ten slate. The Ducks will likely fall at some point (a trip to Ohio State?), but they get back up stronger to win the Big Ten and earn this top seed.
The Sooners go 11-1 in the regular-season, then avenge that only loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. OU fans will have an argument the Sooners should be at No. 1, but thanks to a season-opening win over Boise State, Oregon will the same amount of wins against playoff teams and also avenge its only loss in the Big Ten Championship Game. All that really matters, though, is if the Sooners finally notch that elusive CFP win.
Once again, the only thing really standing between the Fighting Irish and the CFP are the Miami Hurricanes. There's no way Notre Dame loses that matchup again, especially at home, and will coast through the rest of its schedule.
Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs are inevitable, and in 2026, they benefit from an easy schedule, at least by SEC standards. There's probably a loss somewhere in the regular season still for Georgia, but the Bulldogs drop from 1 to 4 after losing to OU in the SEC Championship Game.
There's a reason the Buckeyes are No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll. Ohio State is stacked and return some of the best offensive talent in football. That schedule is brutal, though, with Texas, Indiana, USC (not really), Oregon and Michigan, so there will likely be a few blows suffered.
Similar to Notre Dame, Miami has just one real challenge on its schedule when the Hurricanes travel to South Bend. Even with a loss to Notre Dame, the Hurricanes will finally win an ACC title and return to the CFP.
Indiana won't be what it was in 2025 when it was the national champion, but Curt Cignetti has built a consistent playoff contender in Bloomington, until Alabama throws a billion dollars at him to replace Kalen DeBoer.
I'm hesitant to buy Lane Kiffin stock in Year 1 at LSU, but that university has went all in and given its new coach every means necessary to win immediately. Love him or hate him, there's no denying Kiffin wins and now has more resources than ever before. The Tigers' schedule also sets up nicely with almost all of their toughest challenges coming to Baton Rouge.
Texas A&M, after losing to OU in Norman, will host Texas for the Lone Star Showdown the last week of the regular season. The rivalry game will serve as a play-in game for a final spot in the CFP, and the Aggies will make the most of their home-field advantage to punch their ticket. Better yet, this will have the Longhorns missing the playoff again and likely send Steve Sarkisian packing with Texas at 8-4.
Jeff Brohm is building something special at Louisville. The Cardinals' schedule isn't overwhelming and can include wins over Ole Miss, SMU and Kentucky. Even with a loss to Miami in the ACC Championship Game, Loouisville still gets a seat at the table.
I do not like Texas Tech, not just as college football's newest villain, but as a team, especially without Brendan Sorsby at quarterback. But the Red Raiders' schedule is disgusting. Their biggest threats for a loss are Houston at home or maybe Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Tech's record with a Big 12 title will just be too pretty for the committee to keep the Red Raiders out, but they do at least get the lowest Power 4 ranking.
After what could be an ugly season-opening loss to Oregon, Boise State runs the table in the new Pac-12 and earns that charity Group of 6 spot.
Projected CFP matchups
1st Round
5 Ohio State
12 Boise State
6 Miami
11 Texas Tech
7 Indiana
10 Louisville
8 LSU
9 Texas A&M
Bye: Oregon, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Georgia
2nd Round
4 Georgia
5 Ohio State
1 Oregon
8 LSU
3 Notre Dame
6 Miami
2 Oklahoma
7 Indiana
Semifinals
5 Ohio State
1 Oregon
6 Miami
2 Oklahoma
CFP Championship Game prediction: Oregon over Oklahoma
This is finally Oregon's year under Dan Lanning. The Ducks have everything needed to win it all and get it done in time for 88-year-old Phil Knight to witness that his fortune was well spent. There will just be too much firepower for the Sooners to overcome.
Brent Venables will eventually get his natty with the Sooners, but Lanning is a reminder that it could take some time.
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