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...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Backfield Problem At The Worst Time
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Lee Beebe Jr. and Sean Cuono both landed on the questionable list on the latest availability report, which only adds to the uncertainty. With multiple names in flux, Indiana may have to lean heavily on depth and improvisation just to keep the ground game on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana May Need These Starters Most To Stay Unbeaten At Rutgers
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The other side of the equation is just as demanding. Rutgers has a top target in wide receiver KJ Duff, and cornerback Jamari Sharpe is expected to have a key role in trying to slow him down. In a game where every matchup feels a little sharper because of the injuries Indiana is carrying, the Hoosiers may find themselves asking their starters to cover more than one job. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Unbeaten Start Is Fueling A Huge Draft Rise For Three Hoosiers
Indianas unbeaten start has done more than keep the Hoosiers in the conversation on the field. It has also pushed three of their key players into an early spotlight on the draft circuit, with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid placing wide receiver Charlie Becker, wideout Nick Marsh and offensive lineman Carter Smith among his top 50 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Becker comes in as Reids No. 8 overall prospect thanks to his size, speed and contested-catch ability, while Marsh lands at No. 26 for his physicality and route running. Smith checks in at No. 44 as a steady presence up front, a sign that Indianas unbeaten run is being built on more than one breakout star and that NFL evaluators are taking notice well before the 2026 season is over. [Read more 🡒]