College Football Playoff Predictions Week 2: LSU and USC Make a Massive Move
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Are we going overboard with our College Football Playoff predictions after just one full weekend? Yeah, but looking ahead is our job, and at the moment, this is what we’re seeing.
USC has looked fantastic in its first two games, Oregon was shaky against Boise State, and we’re calling it: the Trojans beat the Ducks in a few weeks and finish 10-2. And LSU? We were all in this offseason, and now we’re completely buying what Lane Kiffin is selling.
2026 College Football Playoff Predictions
Here’s our latest call on how the committee will rank the top 12. The record is our predicted final call, including the conference championships. And remember, the top Group of Six champion is in, so the No. 12-ranked team is likely out.
Predicted College Football Playoff Final Top 12 Ranking
1. Ohio State 13-0*
2. LSU 12-1*
3. Notre Dame 11-1
4. Miami 11-2*
5. Georgia 11-2
6. Texas Tech 11-2*
7. Indiana 10-3
8. BYU 11-2
9. USC 10-2
10. Oregon 10-2
11. Oklahoma 10-2
12. Utah 10-2
*Projected conference champion
CFN Projected First-Round College Football Playoff Matchups
All first round games will be at the home stadiums, and then the bowl games take over starting in the quarterfinal round.
USC (9) at BYU (8)
Friday, December 18, 2026
Game Time: 8:00, ESPN
Location: To Be Determined
It’ll take a win over Oregon to get here, but we’re buying that USC is the real deal after a dominant performance over a decent Fresno State team. We’re also predicting that two Big 12 teams make it – the loser of the Big 12 Championship goes here.
Boise State (12) vs Georgia (5)
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 12:00, ABC/ESPN
Location: To Be Determined
The timing works out on the Saturday of the first round. Georgia gets the five-seed after dropping the SEC Championship, and it gets a home game against the best Group of Six champion – likely the winner of the Boise State vs Western Michigan showdown in a few weeks.
Oklahoma (11) at Texas Tech (6)
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 3:30, TNT/truTV
Location: To Be Determined
Texas Tech doesn’t get a ton of respect as the Big 12 champion, being placed one step behind a loaded SEC Championship loser with the same record. In a year when SEC teams pick each other off left and right, Oklahoma survives and gets in with a 10-2 record.
Oregon (10) at Indiana (7)
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: To Be Determined
The wonderful part about this is that the two Big Ten powerhouses don’t play in the regular season. Indiana could end up higher than this if it loses the Big Ten Championship and has just two losses, but we’re calling that there’s a third loss along the way – like, at Washington, or even (don’t laugh) at Michigan, along with dropping two games against Ohio State.
CFN Projected Quarterfinal Matchups
The Rose Bowl would prefer to get the Big Ten and Pac-12, but traditional bowl tie-ins aren’t a lock for this this round.
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Georgia (5) vs Miami (4)
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
In a monster showdown, the ACC champion Hurricanes have to travel to face a Georgia team coming off a tough SEC Championship loss and a strong first round win over Boise State.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Indiana (7) vs LSU (2)
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Can Lane Kiffin’s Tigers slay the Indiana dragon? After the Hoosiers look fantastic in a first round win over Oregon, they battle LSU in a fantastic way to welcome in the new year.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Oklahoma (11) vs Notre Dame (3)
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Oooooooh, the Notre Dame types won’t like this – Oklahoma as an 11-seed helps pack the house in Arlington. After knocking out Texas Tech, the Sooners and Irish combine for a ratings bonanza of a matchup.
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential
USC (9) vs Ohio State (1)
Friday, January 1, 2027
Game Time: TBD
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Ohio State has to go to USC on October 31st, and with the Trojans pushing past BYU in the first round, we get a Rose Bowl that gives old-school fans all the feelings for the Big Ten vs Pac-12 day.
CFN Projected College Football Playoff Semifinals
The College Football Playoff Quarterfinals will be everything the committee could’ve wanted. The Semifinals should be even stronger.
Capital One Orange Bowl
Notre Dame (3) vs LSU (2)
Thursday, January 14, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, TNT/truTV
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Seriously … stop it. Lane Kiffin’s LSU team against a red-hot Notre Dame with a shot to play for the national title? After the Irish get by Oklahoma and LSU and Indiana battle in a classic, the hype for this will be off the charts.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Georgia (5) vs Ohio State (1)
Friday, January 15, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, ABC/ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
All of a sudden, there’s just one Big Ten team left, and a loaded Georgia team playing at another level will look to carry the SEC flag in a national championship-level showdown.
CFN National Championship Prediction
LSU (2) vs Ohio State (1)
Monday, January 25, 2027
Game Time: 7:30, ABC
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Ohio State going for a second national title in three years. LSU trying to take over college football in the first season under Lane Kiffin. And it’s in Las Vegas.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos