2026 College Football Conference Predictions: Every League, Every Team

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Now that the season is here, let’s do this. Who will win each conference championship? How will each of the 11 league races go? Who will be the players and coaches of the year, what will be the games of the year, and who will surprise and disappoint in each conference?

We finish up our 26 for 2026 series with the No. 1 biggest thing going into the season – here’s what will happen. (Predicted records after each team are only for conference games.)

26 for 2026, No. 1: Predicting Every Conference Race

ACC

• CFN ACC Championship: Miami over Louisville
• CFN Preseason ACC Player of the Year: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: James Franklin, Virginia Tech
• ACC Game of the Year: Miami at Clemson, Oct. 3
• Most Impactful ACC Transfer: (besides Mensah) Alberto Mendoza, QB, Georgia Tech (from Indiana)
• ACC Team Most Likely to Surprise: Virginia Tech
• ACC Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Duke
• 3 ACC Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Miami, Louisville, Clemson

1. Miami (8-1)
2. Louisville (7-2)
3. Clemson (6-2)
4. Georgia Tech (5-3)
T5. NC State (5-4)
T5. SMU (5-4)
T5. Virginia Tech (5-4)
8. Florida State (4-4)
T9. Duke (4-5)
T9. Pitt (4-5)
T9. Cal (4-5)
T9. Virginia (4-5)
T13. Boston College (3-5)
T13. North Carolina (3-5)
15. Wake Forest (3-6)
T16. Stanford (2-7)
T16. Syracuse (2-7)
Note: The ACC plays an unbalanced schedule with some teams playing eight conference games and others playing nine.

American Conference

• CFN American Championship: Navy over Army
• CFN Preseason American Player of the Year: Caden Veltkamp, QB, Florida Atlantic
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Brian Newberry, Navy
• American Game of the Year: East Carolina at Army, Nov. 21
• Most Impactful American Transfer: Marcus Stokes, QB Memphis (from West Florida)
• American Team Most Likely to Surprise: Temple
• American Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Tulane
• 3 American Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Navy, East Carolina, Army

1. Navy (7-1)
T2. Army (6-2)
T2. East Carolina (6-2)
T2. Tulane (6-2)
T5. Memphis (5-3)
T5. North Texas (5-3)
T5. USF (5-3)
T5. UTSA (5-3)
9. Temple (4-4)
T10. Florida Atlantic (3-5)
T10. Tulsa (3-5)
12. UAB (2-6)
13. Rice (1-7)
14. Charlotte (0-8)

Big Ten

• CFN Big Ten Championship: Ohio State over Oregon
• CFN Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year: Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
• Big Ten Game of the Year: Ohio State at Indiana, Oct. 17
• Most Impactful Big Ten Transfer: (besides Hoover) Terrell Anderson, WR, USC (from NC State)
• Big Ten Team Most Likely to Surprise: Wisconsin
• Big Ten Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Iowa
• 3 Big Ten Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana

1. Ohio State (9-0)
T2. Indiana (7-2)
T2. Michigan (7-2)
T2. Oregon (7-2)
T5. Penn State (6-3)
T5. USC (6-3)
T5. Wisconsin (6-3)
T8. Illinois (5-4)
T8. Iowa (5-4)
T8. Washington (5-4)
T11. Minnesota (3-6)
T11. Nebraska (3-6)
T11. Northwestern (3-6)
T11. UCLA (3-6)
T15. Maryland (2-7)
T15. Michigan State (2-7)
T17. Purdue (1-8)
T17. Rutgers (1-8)

Big 12

• CFN Big 12 Championship: Texas Tech over BYU
• CFN Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year: Cade Uluave, LB, BYU
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Kalani Sitake, BYU
• Big 12 Game of the Year: BYU at Utah, Nov. 7
• Most Impactful Big 12 Transfer: (other than Uluave) Trey White, EDGE, Texas Tech (San Diego State)
• Big 12 Team Most Likely to Surprise: Kansas State
• Big 12 Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Arizona
• 3 Big 12 Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: BYU, Texas Tech, Utah

1. BYU (8-1)
T2. Texas Tech (7-2)
T2. Utah (7-2)
T4. Arizona (6-3)
T4. Arizona State (6-3)
T4. Houston (6-3)
T4. Kansas State (6-3)
8. TCU (5-4)
T9. Iowa State (4-5)
T9. West Virginia (4-5)
T11. Baylor (3-6)
T11. Oklahoma State (3-6)
T11. UCF (3-6)
14. Kansas (2-7)
T15. Cincinnati (1-8)
T15. Colorado (1-8)

Conference USA

• CFN Conference USA Championship: WKU over Kennesaw State
• CFN Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year: Nick Minicucci, QB, Delaware
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Tyson Helton, WKU
• Conference USA Game of the Year: Liberty at Kennesaw State, Oct. 21
• Most Impactful Conference USA Transfer: Rickie Collins, QB, Kennesaw State (from Syracuse)
• Conference USA Team Most Likely to Surprise: FIU
• Conference USA Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Jacksonville State
• 3 Conference USA Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: (none without something miraculous, but …) WKU, Kennesaw State, Liberty

1. WKU (7-1)
T2. Kennesaw State (6-2)
T2. Liberty (6-2)
4. Jacksonville State (5-3)
5. FIU (4-4)
T6. Delaware (3-5)
T6. Middle Tennessee (3-5)
T6. Missouri State (3-5)
9. New Mexico State (2-6)
10. Sam Houston (1-7)

MAC

CFN MAC Championship: Western Michigan over Miami University

CFN Preseason MAC Player of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan

CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Lance Taylor, Western Michigan

MAC Game of the Year: Ohio at Miami University, Nov. 10

Most Impactful MAC Transfer: Austin Alexander, EDGE, Western Michigan (from North Carolina)

MAC Team Most Likely to Surprise: Kent State

MAC Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Toledo

3 MAC Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: (The MAC Champion would have to be almost perfect, but …) Western Michigan, Miami University, Ohio

T1. Miami University (7-1)
T1. Western Michigan (7-1)
3. Ohio (6-2)
T4. Central Michigan (5-3)
T4. Toledo (5-3)
T6. Bowling Green (4-4)
T6. Eastern Michigan (4-4)
T6. Kent State (4-4)
T9. Ball State (3-5)
T9. Buffalo (3-5)
T11. Akron (2-6)
T11. Sacramento State (2-6)
13. UMass (0-8)

Mountain West

• CFN Mountain West Championship: Hawaii over North Dakota State
• CFN Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year: Micah Alejado, QB, Hawaii
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Timmy Chang, Hawaii
• Mountain West Game of the Year: UNLV at North Dakota State, Oct. 24
• Most Impactful Mountain West Transfer: Jackson Arnold, QB, UNLV (from Auburn)
• Mountain West Team Most Likely to Surprise: North Dakota State
• Mountain West Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Northern Illinois
• 3 Mountain West Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Hawaii, UNLV, North Dakota State

1. Hawaii (7-1)
T2. New Mexico (6-2)
T2. North Dakota State (6-2)
T2. UNLV (6-2)
T5. Air Force (4-4)
T5. Wyoming (4-4)
7. San Jose State (3-5)
8. Nevada (2-6)
T9. Northern Illinois (1-7)
T9. UTEP (1-7)

Pac-12

• CFN Pac-12 Championship: Boise State over San Diego State
• CFN Preseason Pac-12 Player of the Year: Lucky Sutton, RB, San Diego State
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Jim Mora, Colorado State
• Pac-12 Game of the Year: San Diego State at Boise State, Nov. 20
• Most Impactful Pac-12 Transfer: Evan Lawrence, OT, San Diego State (from Indiana)
• Pac-12 Team Most Likely to Surprise: Colorado State
• Pac-12 Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Washington State
• 3 Pac-12 Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State

T1. Boise State (6-2)
T1. San Diego State (6-2)
T3. Fresno State (5-3)
T3. Washington State (5-3)
T5. Colorado State (3-5)
T5. Utah State (3-5)
T7. Oregon State (2-6)
T7. Texas State (2-6)

SEC

• CFN SEC Championship: Georgia over Texas
• CFN Preseason SEC Player of the Year: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Lane Kiffin, LSU
• SEC Game of the Year: Oklahoma vs Texas (in Dallas), Oct. 10
• Most Impactful SEC Transfer: Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU (from Arizona State)
• SEC Team Most Likely to Surprise: Florida
• SEC Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Ole Miss
• 3 SEC Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma

T1. Georgia (8-1)
T1. Texas (8-1)
T3. LSU (7-2)
T3. Oklahoma (7-2)
T5. Alabama (6-3)
T5. Texas A&M (6-3)
T7. Florida (5-4)
T7. Ole Miss (5-4)
T7. South Carolina (5-4)
T7. Tennessee (5-4)
T11. Auburn (3-6)
T11. Missouri (3-6)
13. Mississippi State (2-7)
T14. Kentucky (1-8)
T14. Vanderbilt (1-8)
16. Arkansas (0-9)

Sun Belt

• CFN Sun Belt Championship: James Madison over Troy
• CFN Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year: Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, QB, Marshall
• CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Billy Napier, James Madison
• Sun Belt Game of the Year: James Madison at Old Dominion, Sept. 26
• Most Impactful Sun Belt Transfer: Jeremiah Harrison, WR, James Madison (from East Tennessee)
• Sun Belt Team Most Likely to Surprise: Louisiana Tech
• Sun Belt Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Louisiana
• 3 Sun Belt Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: James Madison, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion

Sun Belt East
1. James Madison (7-1)
2. Old Dominion (6-2)
3. Georgia Southern (5-3)
4. Coastal Carolina (4-4)
T5. App State (3-5)
T5. Marshall (3-5)
7. Georgia State (1-7)

Sun Belt West
T1. Louisiana Tech (5-3)
T1. Troy (5-3)
T1. South Alabama (5-3)
T4. Arkansas State (4-4)
T4. Louisiana (4-4)
6. Southern Miss (3-5)
7. ULM (1-7)

26 for 2026
26: Winningest Programs Yet To Make the CFP
25: ACC Key Questions
24: Big 12 Key Questions
23: Big Ten Key Questions
22: Top 2027 NFL Draft Prospects
21: SEC Key Questions
20: What’s Next in Realignment?
19. Ranking all 30 New Head Coaches
18. Who Has the Easiest Schedules?
17. Who Has the Hardest Schedules?
16. Who Might Be the Next Indiana?
15. Group of Six Teams with Best CFP Shot
14. 5 Teams Due For a Letdown
13. 5 Programs Under the Most Pressure
12. 26 Bold Predictions
11. 5 Teams We’re Disrespecting
10. 5 Hottest Head Coaching Prospects
9. Biggest Games of the Season
8. Coaches On Hot Seat
7. Teams About to Surprise
6. 10 New Superstars
5. Top Quarterback Battles
4. Top 26 Transfers
3. Heisman Watch List
2. CFP Top 25 Rankings Prediction

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