The 2026 College Football Playoff Picture Takes Shape

With fall camps underway across the country and the season opener just weeks away, CBS Sports expert John Talty has released his first full 2026 College Football Playoff bracket prediction. The 12-team field features a familiar mix of blue bloods and rising programs, with Notre Dame and Georgia earning the top two seeds. Here is the complete projection, from first-round matchups to the national championship.

Top Four Seeds: Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon

No. 1 Notre Dame (12-0 projected): The Fighting Irish are projected to run the table in the regular season, powered by the nation's best defense. Cornerback Leonard Moore (97 overall, 4 interceptions in 2025) anchors a secondary that allowed just 184.2 passing yards per game. The question is whether Notre Dame's offense — breaking in a new quarterback — can hold up its end of the bargain in the playoff.

No. 2 Georgia (11-1 projected): The Bulldogs' only projected loss is at Ole Miss, but Kirby Smart's roster is as deep as ever. Quarterback Gunner Stockton enters his second season as the full-time starter, and the defensive line — led by senior tackle Nazir Stackhouse — is expected to be the best in the SEC. Georgia's path to the title runs through Atlanta, where they would host a quarterfinal game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

No. 3 Ohio State (11-1 projected): The Buckeyes' only loss is projected at Penn State, but Ryan Day's squad has the offensive firepower to beat anyone. The defensive line, led by Caden Curry (10.5 sacks in 2025) and freshman standout Eddrick Houston, is the best in the country. Ohio State's road to the title could go through the Horseshoe, where they would host a first-round game.

No. 4 Oregon (11-1 projected): The Ducks' lone loss is projected at Wisconsin, but quarterback Dante Moore's return gives Oregon the best passing attack in the Big Ten. The emergence of wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan in fall camp has given Oregon's offense an added dimension that could make them the most dangerous team in the field.

First-Round Matchups

No. 12 Miami (FL) at No. 5 Texas: Miami enters the field as the ACC champion, but Texas's home-field advantage in Austin gives the Longhorns the edge. Quinn Ewers's experience in big games could be the difference.

No. 11 LSU at No. 6 Clemson: The most intriguing first-round matchup. LSU's offense under Garrett Nussmeier against Clemson's veteran defense is a classic strength-on-strength battle. The winner faces Notre Dame in the quarterfinals.

No. 10 Penn State at No. 7 Alabama: James Franklin returns to the playoff with Penn State, but Alabama's home-field advantage in Tuscaloosa is one of the toughest environments in the sport. The winner gets Georgia in the quarterfinals.

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 Utah: The biggest surprise in the field is Utah, projected as the Big 12 champion. Lane Kiffin's high-powered offense travels to Salt Lake City, where the altitude and the Utes' physical defense create a brutal matchup for any opponent.

Quarterfinals and Beyond

In the quarterfinals, Talty projects Notre Dame to handle the LSU-Clemson winner, Georgia to overpower the Penn State-Alabama winner, Ohio State to dispatch Ole Miss or Utah, and Oregon to edge out Texas or Miami in a shootout. The semifinals feature Notre Dame vs. Oregon and Georgia vs. Ohio State — two matchups that could produce the highest-rated games of the season. In the national championship, Talty picks Georgia to defeat Notre Dame in a defensive battle, 27-20, giving Kirby Smart his third national title at Georgia.

What This Means for CFB 27

In College Football 27, the playoff projection translates directly into Dynasty mode, where the 12-team format is fully implemented. Notre Dame's path to the top seed in the game is realistic — their defense is the best in the game, and their schedule is manageable. Georgia's roster depth makes them the most dangerous team in a simulated playoff, with elite talent at every position group. For Ultimate Team players, the playoff projections can guide your roster building: investing in players from projected playoff teams (especially Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon) could pay off as their cards receive boosts during the postseason promo.