College football 2026: September CFP superlatives

Key Points:

• The 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) season starts in September with 33 new head coaches and significant player transfers; new CFP rules guarantee Notre Dame a spot if ranked in the top 12, and Power 4 conference champs plus the highest-ranked Group of 6 team receive automatic bids.
• Key nonconference games in September, such as Ohio State vs. Texas and Oklahoma vs. Michigan, will heavily influence Selection Day, with head-to-head results likely playing a critical role in seeding and playoff qualification.
• Several first-year coaches, including Lane Kiffin at LSU and Pete Golding at Ole Miss, face early tests that will shape their teams’ CFP chances, while questions remain about how the committee will evaluate head-to-head results, strength of schedule, and potential multiple bids from the ACC and Big 12.
• Standout players like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Texas’ Arch Manning are expected to have defining impacts on their teams’ playoff runs, while strong performances from units like Notre Dame’s secondary and Alabama’s offensive line will be crucial.
• Predictions for the season include at least one new team making the playoff, the Big Ten securing two top-four seeds, the SEC ending the Big Ten’s recent national title streak, and the Group of 6 representative likely being a conference champion despite the new rule allowing otherwise.