Our College Football Playoff, Heisman, national championship and bold predictions for 2026

Key Points:

• Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon are the top favorites to win the 2026 College Football Playoff, with Notre Dame receiving the most national championship votes from The Athletic's staff. Oregon and Ohio State also have strong support from readers and models.
• Miami is favored to win the ACC for the first time since joining the league in 2004, while Texas Tech is the consensus favorite to win the Big 12, and Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana lead the Big Ten title race. Texas and Georgia are the top contenders in the SEC.
• Nine teams received at least 50% of staff votes to make the Playoff, including unanimous picks Notre Dame and Oregon, with Ohio State just missing unanimous status. The Group of 6’s top contenders are Boise State and UNLV.
• Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is the leading Heisman Trophy candidate in preseason predictions, followed by quarterbacks Dante Moore (Oregon), CJ Carr (Notre Dame), and Arch Manning (Texas).
• Bold predictions include Miami receiver Malachi Toney achieving a rare statistical feat, Michigan struggling to make a bowl game, USC firing coach Lincoln Riley, and Texas missing the Playoff despite heavy roster investment. Several experts foresee surprises in conference championships and coaching changes.