Our 2026 College Football Crystal Ball Has Some Surprises
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Sports Illustrated’s college football writers predict Notre Dame to win the 2026 national championship over Oregon, with a College Football Playoff field including Ohio State, Miami, Texas, LSU, Indiana, Georgia, and others.
- Miami is the consensus pick to win the ACC, with strong rosters and manageable schedules, while Texas Tech and BYU are the leading contenders for the Big 12 title.
- Indiana is favored to repeat as Big Ten champions, with Oregon and Ohio State also in contention; Georgia and Texas are top picks for the SEC crown.
- Group of 6 playoff hopefuls include Navy, Boise State, Memphis, New Mexico, UNLV, and others, with coaching changes and team development expected to influence outcomes.
- Key storylines to watch include potential flops by preseason contenders like Texas and Georgia, early coaching firings (notably Florida State’s Mike Norvell), and breakout performances by quarterbacks such as Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Texas’s Arch Manning.
