These Group of Six teams have the best shot at making the College Football Playoff in 2026
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- New College Football Playoff rules guarantee spots for ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC champions, limiting Group of Six representation to just one team, making multiple non-power conference champions in the playoff highly unlikely.
- Boise State and Fresno State, both new members of the Pac-12, are strong Group of Six contenders with returning key players and manageable schedules that could help them vie for the playoff spot.
- James Madison and Tulane, former playoff teams now under new coaching staffs, remain competitive in the Sun Belt and American conferences respectively, though roster changes pose challenges.
- Navy and UTSA are favored in the American Athletic Conference, with Navy relying on a strong rushing offense and returning defensive leaders, while UTSA aims to rebound with experienced offensive starters.
- Mountain West teams New Mexico and UNLV face uphill battles due to conference changes and defensive concerns, but could surprise with improved performances and strategic coaching.
