College football record projections for every FBS team for 2026 season

Key Points:

• USA TODAY Sports predicts Ohio State, Texas, Miami, and Texas Tech to win their respective Power Four conferences in the 2026 college football season, with teams like Oregon, Indiana, and Georgia also expected to compete for College Football Playoff spots.
• In the Big Ten, Ohio State and Oregon lead the pack, followed by defending champion Indiana and potential sleeper USC, while the SEC sees Texas and Georgia at the top, with Alabama and Oklahoma also in contention despite some uncertainties.
• The ACC forecast highlights Miami as the favorite, with SMU and Clemson as potential challengers, while the Big 12 expects Texas Tech to dominate again, with BYU and Houston as significant threats.
• Among the Group of Six conferences, Navy, Western Kentucky, Miami Ohio, UNLV, Boise State, and James Madison are favored to lead their leagues, with notable teams like Delaware and North Dakota State poised to make impacts.
• Notre Dame is projected to contend for its first national championship since 1988, thanks to a strong roster led by quarterback CJ Carr, while new coaching changes and team developments across conferences add intrigue to the 2026 season outlook.