A new team has moved into the top spot in the latest playoff projection, and it’s Georgia - not Texas - that now holds the No. 1 overall seed.
Texas grabbed the national spotlight a couple weeks ago by knocking off top-ranked Ohio State and claiming No. 1 in the AP poll, but the early read on the 2026 season points elsewhere when it comes to the bracket. One month into the year, there’s still plenty left to sort out, yet the picture is clear enough to start slotting in the major contenders.
Georgia gets the edge as the projected SEC champion. The Bulldogs may not have the flashiest résumé yet, but they’re being treated like the most complete roster in the conference right now, and they’ve handled business the way an elite team should despite questions about the level of competition so far.
Ohio State remains the projected Big Ten champion. The Buckeyes still have plenty of tests ahead - trips to Iowa, Indiana and USC, plus home games against Oregon and Michigan - but even with that one-point loss at Texas, a game in which they led by 20, they’ve shown enough to stay in line as the Big Ten’s top team.
Miami is projected to win the ACC, and Darian Mensah is a big reason why. He’s completing nearly 90 percent of his passes, and the Hurricanes’ offense ranks third nationally. Clemson and Florida State are waiting as the next major checkpoints.
Notre Dame is in the mix as well, even if the skepticism remains. “They ain’t played nobody” could still be thrown at the Fighting Irish, but their win over Wisconsin looks better now that the Badgers have upset Penn State at Happy Valley. North Carolina could provide a test, and BYU certainly will in a couple weeks.
Texas still lands as the projected SEC runner-up. The Longhorns have earned plenty of credit for beating Ohio State and then No.
14 Tennessee on the road, but those games also exposed concerns about Arch Manning’s consistency and the penalties that keep showing up. Those issues could matter a lot when the SEC title race tightens.
Indiana is the projected Big Ten runner-up. The reigning champs were unlikely to repeat last year’s level of dominance, but the close call against Northwestern stood out. Their Oct. 17 meeting with Ohio State at home is one the playoff selectors will be watching closely.
Florida has worked its way into the conversation after a statement win over top-five Ole Miss. Jon Sumrall says the Gators aren’t back yet, but after a 300-yard-plus rushing performance in that game, they’re firmly in the middle of the playoff picture until someone knocks them out of it.
Alabama remains in the mix too, with Keelon Russell continuing to do his part at quarterback. The Tide’s trip to Mississippi State - and the matchup with Kamario Taylor, the Bulldogs’ own dual-threat quarterback - should tell us more about whether Alabama deserves to stay in the playoff discussion.
The projected Big 12 champion is the team that has the conference’s best win, thanks to a victory over Houston. The offense hasn’t fully matched expectations given the talent in the backfield, but that win gives them a narrow edge over BYU.
Iowa is also impossible to ignore after staying unbeaten with a last-second touchdown win over Michigan at the Big House. Beat Ohio State this week, and the selectors will have to take them seriously. Even a loss doesn’t end the discussion, as long as there aren’t any more.
Ole Miss is still alive despite the 52 points it allowed Florida to score. The Rebels have already beaten LSU and Louisville, and with Texas and Georgia still ahead, they’ll get chances to make a much louder statement.
Boise State rounds out the field as the Group of Six selection. Their ranking in the AP poll this week strengthens their standing as the best non-power conference team in the projection, especially with a win over Western Michigan and another quality victory over Memphis already on the résumé.
In Other News...
Florida Is Suddenly In Position For A Massive Recruiting Flip
A sudden opening in the 2027 class has put Florida in the thick of a major recruiting battle, with five-star wide receiver Easton Royal drawing real attention after a recent visit to Gainesville. Royal, who is committed to Texas and ranked as the top wideout in his class, has become one of the most closely watched names on Floridas board as Jon Sumrall pushes to make the Gators a serious threat in a race that has quickly picked up steam.
Texas is not letting the situation drift, either, with Steve Sarkisian working to hold on to Royal as speculation around a possible change in plans continues to grow. For Florida, the appeal is obvious: landing a player of Royals caliber would send a clear message about the programs ability to win elite battles early, but the story is still unfolding and the next move will determine whether this becomes a real flip or just another high-profile visit to track. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Golden Just Landed A Frontcourt Piece Florida Fans Will Love
Floridas 2027 recruiting momentum picked up with a major frontcourt addition as Ian Condon gave Todd Golden a commitment from one of the most promising prospects in the class. The four-star power forward from Washington, D.C., is ranked No. 18 nationally and arrives with the kind of profile Gators fans tend to love: size, athleticism, shooting touch and the ability to affect the game in more than one way.
Condon backed up that reputation in EYBL play, where he averaged more than 18 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while showing he can score at all three levels and handle work on the glass and defensive end. For Florida, it is another sign that Golden can sell a modern frontcourt role to elite talent, and it gives the Gators an early foundation piece in a class that still has room to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Suddenly Looks Like More Than A Top 10 Story
Floridas 52-28 win over Ole Miss did more than add another ranked victory to the ledger. It pushed the Gators up to No. 8 nationally and reinforced the idea that this team is beginning to look like a program with staying power, not just a nice early-season storyline. Jadan Baugh was central to that picture, piling up 142 rushing yards and three touchdowns while continuing to pace the nation in rushing scores.
The momentum has spilled beyond the field, too, with Florida landing commitments from 2028 recruits Cyion Smith and Samuel Bailey and getting another bit of good news when basketball player Denzel Aberdeen was cleared for the 2026-27 season. For a fan base used to measuring progress in narrow steps, the week felt like one of those rare stretches when almost everything seemed to be moving the right way at once, even if the bigger test of just how far this run can go is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]