2026 College Football Playoff projection: Oregon, Notre Dame take top spots

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We are just two weeks away from Week 0 of the college football season, and teams will hope to make their case for making the top 12 of the College Football Playoff. Since moving to a 12-team playoff in 2024, there has been plenty of excitement.

And with loaded talent this year, there is bound to be more excitement in the r ace to make the CFP in 2026.

Here is my official 2026 CFP bracket projection.

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Bracket projection:

Oregon (Big Ten champion)
Notre Dame
Georgia (SEC champion)
Ohio State
Miami (ACC champion)
BYU (Big 12 champion)
Texas
Texas Tech
LSU
Indiana
Ole Miss
UNLV (Group of 6)

Round 1 action:

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterbacks coach Joe Judge with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

The top four seeds will receive a bye and the remaining eight teams will face off, with the higher seed getting home-field advantage.

No. 5 Miami over No. 12 UNLV
No. 11 Ole Miss over No. 6 BYU
No. 10 Indiana over No. 7 Texas
No. 9 LSU over No. 8 Texas Tech

Round 2 action:

Now, we are at neutral sites with the top four teams getting into the action.

No. 1 Oregon over No. 9 LSU
No. 2 Notre Dame over No. 10 Indiana
No. 11 Ole Miss over No. 3 Georgia
No. 4 Ohio State over No. 5 Miami

Semifinals action

No. 1 Oregon over No. 4 Ohio State
No. 2 Notre Dame over No. 11 Ole Miss

National championship

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks off the field as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

No. 1 Oregon over No. 2 Notre Dame

I have Oregon taking down the Irish in the championship, and it was well earned for Dan Lanning and the Ducks. Oregon doesn’t have an easy path playing in the Big Ten, and n ot only do I think the Ducks win the conference this season, but Oregon’s path is much more difficult than Notre Dame’s.

The Irish have some difficult games, but Oregon will be more battle-tested, and Dante Moore could be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Lanning will see Moore’s collegiate career end with a bang, and the Big Ten would capture its fourth-straight national championship.

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