Georgia, Notre Dame Claim Top Seeds in 2026 College Football Playoff Bracket
Notre Dame and Georgia have secured the top two seeds in the 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket, according to a preseason projection.
The CFP committee has announced the first-round byes, with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami earning spots.
Notre Dame, a team expected to go undefeated in the regular season, will face a hot team after a long layoff. The Rebels host their second consecutive home playoff game, but get a very formidable foe in Oregon.
The 2026 season is set to kick off, and the CFP field is already taking shape. There are some especially tasty matchups early on in the season, like Texas-Ohio State, Ole Miss-LSU and Oklahoma-Michigan, which could all have an impact on the CFP field.
Georgia is going to win some ugly games in the regular season, but it'll give it some resiliency for when it matters most. On paper at least, Indiana should have a real chance to repeat as national champs. But in this projected bracket path, I think Georgia proves to be too much for the Hoosiers.
LSU fans will be dreaming big after Lane guided them to not only a playoff berth, but a first-round road win. The fairytale would end against a talented Buckeyes team that is more battle-tested than the version we saw in 2025.
Texas, led by Arch Manning, is a team to watch this season. There are still Arch doubters, but it feels like this team has enough talent to make a real run. Texas finally breaks through with a win over Miami in the quarter-final.
Miami will be looking to cause an upset against a talented Texas team. A year ago, Ole Miss was a play away from playing in the national championship. Another dream season ends in a similar way as the Rebels can't get revenge for Steve Sarkisian's offseason shot.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several top teams vying for a spot in the CFP. The first matchup of the season will see Texas face off against Boise State in a battle of two highly regarded teams.
Source: CBS