I recently unleashed my pre-season Top 20 rankings for 2026 so you can imagine how today’s playoff prediction is going to play out. There may be a fun surprise at the end, see below for more good vibes. #LeaveNoDoubt
This is year 13 of college football using a playoff to determine a champion, and the 3rd season using a 12-team field. This 12-team format is set to be used through the 2027 season, although expansion looms over the sport as always.
Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia have multiple championships in the playoff era while Indiana joined Michigan and LSU with one title apiece. If you’re keeping score at home, the SEC has 6 championships to 4 titles for the Big Ten and a pair from the ACC due to Clemson.
Last year, Boise State (9-5), Arizona State (8-5), LSU (7-6), and Penn State (7-6) were included in my playoff predictions and none of these programs made it. Either did the Fighting Irish as predicted, rather controversially. A reminder that a new rule change has Notre Dame locked in if they are ranked 12th or better–unlike last year.
Eventual National Champion winner Indiana did not make my 2025 playoff prediction, by the way. I did pick Alabama to win it all and that looks pretty bad in hindsight. I’m planning a huge redemption for 2026!
Now, here is the 2026 prediction:
There’s a lot to like in this bracket.
WE ARE GOING TO DO IT.
When I get to zoom out, it’s easier to predict ultimate success. I’m not sure I always feel that way once I start digging into game previews! But, I feel something special about this team, about Marcus Freeman, and really a big, big bet on CJ Carr being the quarterback to bring us back to the promise land. I’m not sure I’ve felt better about an Irish quarterback in my adult life, certainly not in my time covering the team since the Weis years.
Speaking of quarterbacks, I don’t really have the team with the worse signal caller moving on in this playoff prediction. Exceptions could be Georgia vs. Ohio State but I think Stockton is an underrated gamer of a college quarterback. I’ll take Dante Moore over Arch Manning, as well.
In terms of entertainment, of course a run to the title would be amazing irrespective of opponent(s). Yet, Ole Miss hasn’t met the Irish since 1985 and the Irish haven’t faced the Ducks since 1982 (it would be the third ever meeting against both teams). Can you imagine meeting Miami in Las Vegas for all the marbles? The TV ratings could be legendary.
It would be a theoretical rematch, of course. I find it hard to believe Notre Dame and the Canes could end up at #1 and #3 for the final playoff rankings given they play on November 7th, but what the hell. Neither program has a super tough schedule and 1-loss might keep either team far, far away from the top seed, or even a bye.
Not including conference championship games, did you know that from the beginning of college football through 2021 there were only 24 instances of a postseason rematch from the regular season? We’ve had 7 rematches since the 2022 season began, including 4 just in last year’s playoffs. I’m looking things over and this National Championship Game would be the only rematch of my theoretical playoffs.
The champion of the SEC only a 5-seed??
Based on my pre-season rankings, I should’ve placed LSU in the #11 seed ahead of Alabama. Maybe the Tide will work their voodoo on the playoff committee once again.
How do we feel about both Texas Tech and BYU making it from their Big 12? A reminder that they don’t play each other during the regular season but are favored to play each other in the league championship game.
The highest ranked SEC team only 5th behind a pair of Big Ten teams–not very realistic? I’m thinking it’s a lot more possible than some may think because A) Ohio State can beat Texas in the regular season B) Texas can be Texas and lose another game but go on to win the SEC and C) Ohio State and Oregon can split their games in the regular season and Big Ten Championship as potentially their only losses before the playoffs. I’m sure the committee would be foaming at the mouth to put a 10-2 SEC Champion Texas into a top 4 seed over the Big Ten Championship participating 1-loss non-league winner team in this scenario.
My only take on these predictions, and I’ve thought this for a while, is I don’t think ND is going to get seeded #1 almost regardless of what happens. If we just straight up crush everyone it’s possible, but I feel like the SEC and B1G are going to have teams ranked ahead of us even at 12-0 because Sankey and Petitti are likely to throw crying fits if they aren’t.