College Football Playoff Predictions 2026: Can the Miami Hurricanes Get Over The Hump?

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Yes, it’s only Week 1. Yes, there are still months of football left. And yes, everything in this prediction could look completely ridiculous by November. But if you’re a real college football fanatic, you’re already thinking about the College Football Playoff.

With Week 1 in the books, we got our first real look at which teams came out ready to answer the bell and which ones already have some things to figure out. It’s obviously way too early to make any definitive statements. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun, and there is nothing more fun than making College Football Playoff predictions for the 12-team bracket.

College Football Playoff Predictions | First Round

James Madison vs. Notre Dame

For now, the James Madison Dukes get the Group of Six spot, but that could change quickly.

The Boise State Broncos still feel like the obvious team many people expect to eventually take this spot, especially given their showing against the Oregon Ducks. But they ultimately lost that game, and right now, James Madison gets the nod after taking care of business in Week 1.

On the other side is Notre Dame, and the No. 5 seed is a pretty comfortable place to be. Recent playoff history has shown just how valuable that seed can be. Notre Dame would get a home playoff game against a Group of Six opponent instead of immediately facing one of the nation’s elite teams.

This bodes well for the Fighting Irish to advance to the next round and validate their 11.2% chance to win the CFP according to PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter (FPM). That’s about as favorable an opening-round situation as you can ask for.

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The Irish didn’t exactly light the world on fire in the first half against Wisconsin, but then something clicked. Notre Dame dominated the second half and walked away with a convincing 28-point victory.

Quarterback CJ Carr looked steady, which is probably the biggest thing Notre Dame wanted to see coming out of Week 1. Carr is looking to improve upon his 85.9 PFN CFB QB Impact Score from the 2025 season and live up to those Heisman hopeful expectations.

The bigger concern was the running game.

The absence of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price was noticeable, and Notre Dame can’t afford to become one-dimensional against the better teams on this list. Fortunately for Marcus Freeman, there is plenty of time to get that figured out.

The Irish remain one of the most complete teams in the country.

Alabama vs. Indiana

Oh, look what we have here. A rematch.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers met in last year’s CFP quarterfinal, and let’s just say the Crimson Tide probably aren’t interested in reliving that experience. Indiana handed Alabama a beating, but this time around, though, both teams look different.

Alabama looked exactly like a team with championship aspirations should against the East Carolina Pirates. The opponent wasn’t going to tell us everything, but the Crimson Tide took care of business and gave us our first real glimpse of new quarterback Keelon Russell.

Russell’s dual-threat ability immediately stood out. He can hurt defenses with his arm, but his ability to create with his legs adds another dimension to the offense.

And the Alabama defense? Smothering might be the best word for it.

Indiana also did what it needed to do in Week 1 against North Texas.

The biggest storyline for the Hoosiers might be how comfortable Josh Hoover looked early. That’s encouraging considering how long it took some of Indiana’s previous quarterbacks to fully settle into the offense.

And then there are the receivers.

Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh could end up being one of the best receiving duos in the country. Becker’s ball skills, paired with Marsh’s athleticism, give Indiana a dangerous combination on the outside.

This would be a completely different game from last year’s matchup. And that’s exactly why it would be so fun.

LSU vs. Oregon

How about them Tigers? LSU came out swinging against Clemson, and Lane Kiffin immediately showed why he’s one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

We know what Kiffin’s offenses are supposed to look like.

Fast. Aggressive. Creative.

That part wasn’t necessarily surprising. What caught my attention was the physicality. LSU looked tough at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and that’s the kind of thing that gets you noticed when the conversation eventually turns toward the playoff.

Then, there’s Oregon.

The Ducks survived Boise State, 34-27, but let’s be honest: that game probably should have been more comfortable.

Oregon has legitimate championship aspirations. The offense looked the part, especially with Dante Moore showing why he’s considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

The defense, however, raised some eyebrows. The Ducks had a 76.9 PFN Team Defense Impact Score, good for only 57th in Week 1, which is well below the standards they have set in the building.

The front seven was supposed to be one of Oregon’s biggest strengths, and instead, Boise State found ways to make life uncomfortable. That’s not necessarily a reason to panic. It’s Week 1. But it is a reason to pay attention.

LSU couldn’t have asked for a better opening statement, while Oregon leaves Week 1 with a win and a few things to clean up.

Texas vs. Ole Miss

The SEC might be taking over this College Football Playoff prediction. Five teams from the conference currently make the field, and two of them would meet right here. This is also the kind of game NFL scouts would have circled months in advance.

Arch Manning vs. Trinidad Chambliss. Two of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft going head-to-head on one of the biggest stages in college football.

But this game would be about much more than quarterbacks. Both teams have an embarrassing amount of talent on both sides of the ball.

Texas has Colin Simmons coming off the edge, and his presence alone could force Ole Miss to completely alter its game plan. Meanwhile, Ole Miss has a difference-maker of its own in defensive tackle Will Echoles.

There are elite matchups everywhere you look. The real question is which team can win the line of scrimmage consistently enough to let its quarterback make the difference.

College Football Playoff Predictions | Quarterfinal

Notre Dame vs. Texas Tech

Notre Dame gets through James Madison without much trouble and advances to face the projected Big 12 champion, Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Joey McGuire’s team was supposed to look a little different heading into this season after Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby joined, but that plan obviously changed. Will Hammond is now the guy, and so far, the Texas Tech offense looks more mediocre than dominant.

There’s plenty of time to fix that.

The defense can still play, although it doesn’t appear to be at the same level as last year’s unit. That puts even more pressure on the offense to find some consistency.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, might quietly have the most reliable roster from top to bottom. That’s what makes the Irish dangerous. They don’t necessarily need to be spectacular every Saturday. They just need to keep getting better.

And teams like that can become nightmares by December.

Indiana vs. Ohio State

Our College Football Playoff predictions throw together another rematch. Indiana and Ohio State have already developed a recent history, meeting in the Big Ten Championship Game of the 2025 season.

Now they could meet with a trip to the national championship on the line.

Ohio State looks reloaded, not rebuilt. Currently, they have the highest percentage of winning the entire thing at 14.8%, according to the PFN CFP Playoff Meter. Indiana is not too far behind, at 9.7%, good for the fourth-best odds.

Julian Sayin looked like he picked up right where he left off, while Jeremiah Smith reminded everyone why he’s one of the most terrifying weapons in college football, having 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns in just one half of play.

The question is whether that talent is enough to overwhelm the reigning national champions.

It’s honestly strange to say this about Indiana, but there is now a trust factor surrounding the program. That’s what Curt Cignetti has built. The Hoosiers aren’t viewed as some fun Cinderella story anymore. They’re viewed as a legitimate contender.

The offense looks much further ahead than it did at this point last year. The defense, however, needs to find its identity again.

If Indiana can get that side of the ball back to the level we saw during its 2025 run, the Hoosiers are going to be a nightmare matchup.

LSU vs. Miami (FL)

Now we’re talking. LSU and Miami would give us stars everywhere we look. Miami made a statement in Week 1 against Stanford, and new quarterback Darian Mensah looked remarkably calm in his first start for the Hurricanes. There was almost a Cam Ward-like confidence to the new ‘Canes quarterback.

And then there’s Malachi Toney. At this point, he might have a legitimate argument for being the best pound-for-pound player in college football.

Add Cooper Barkate on the other side, and Miami has a receiving combination that can give defensive coordinators headaches. The Miami defense looked good in Week 1, too, although the real test will come when the Hurricanes start facing better competition.

Texas vs. Georgia

Many will say Georgia has Texas’ number, and early into the Longhorns’ SEC tenure, the Bulldogs have dominated this matchup. This year could be different, but just like with Indiana, there’s now a trust factor with the Bulldogs, all thanks to Kirby Smart. He has this team operating on all cylinders, and if there are any cracks, he seems to fix them right away.

The defense looks improved from a year ago, and this team will go as far as QB Gunner Stockton takes them. Think ultimate gamer when it comes to the Georgia passer.

Texas and Steve Sarkisian feel the pressure to produce now after so much hype over the last two years. Could this be Arch Manning’s last dance? Time will tell, but they need to capitalize on all the surrounding talent they have.

College Football Playoff Predictions | Semifinal

Notre Dame vs. Indiana

Wouldn’t this be a fun matchup? The battle for the state of Indiana. The young-rockstar-head-coach Marcus Freeman vs. the out-of-nowhere-darling-veteran Cignetti.

You can expect a physical matchup from start to finish and a well-coached game. Hoover will need to stay the course and not revert to his old turnover ways against an opportunistic defense.

This is the big stage for Carr to take the reins and put himself in the Notre Dame history books as one of the best quarterbacks to come out of South Bend.

Miami vs. Texas

Miami looks to get revenge after coming up just short a year ago, losing in the national championship game against Indiana. This feels like a different Hurricanes team, with a sense of urgency and a steady balance of great offense and great defense — something they haven’t had over the last two seasons.

The question is, can the offensive line hold up against a higher level of play throughout the season and, more importantly, against a great Texas front seven?

Sarkisian will look to finally silence the haters who say he can’t win the big one. They make it this far on the back of Arch and all his new weapons on offense, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp looks to lead the defense to new heights.

College Football Playoff National Championship Game

Oh, look, another rematch. This rivalry matchup has famously been dubbed Catholics vs. Convicts over the years.

They face each other in the regular season, and our College Football Playoff predictions pit them against each other for the ultimate glory. Winning against an opponent twice is extremely tough. Both teams have film, tendencies, and a better understanding of how the other side plays.

Can Mario Cristobal finally get over the hump and hoist the trophy he couldn’t quite touch a year ago? The chances of them getting back to the same spot they reached last year are 16.9%, with PFN’s FPM giving the Hurricanes an 8.7% shot to go that extra inch and win a national title.

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Notre Dame head coach Freeman was the runner-up in the 2024 season, giving us two bridesmaids with only one capable of becoming the bride.

The matchup to watch is the electric Miami offense and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s play-calling against the tough-nosed Notre Dame defense, which will make the Hurricanes earn every yard.

I favor the Fighting Irish for their all-around consistency, which gives them the advantage in this matchup. They should edge out the Hurricanes in a nail-biter. Cristobal goes home heartbroken again, while the NFL calls for Freeman will only get louder.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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