Week 5 didn’t just shake up the College Football Playoff picture - it blew a few holes in it.
ESPN’s latest round of CFP predictions shows just how much movement is still out there as the 2026 season approaches its midpoint. Florida, which was a unanimous pick last week, has almost completely fallen out of the conversation.
Jon Sumrall’s team now appears on only one ballot. Missouri, the team that beat up the Gators, also cracked the list with one projection.
That shuffle still leaves the SEC as the dominant force in these updated predictions, with seven teams showing up across the various ballots: Texas, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida and Missouri.
The top of the board remains crowded with the same heavy hitters, though the order changes depending on the voter. Texas and Georgia are the big anchors, Miami is sitting comfortably in the mix, and Notre Dame, Alabama, Indiana and Ohio State continue to pop up across multiple projections. BYU, Utah, Oregon, UCLA, Pitt, Texas Tech, North Dakota State, Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma State round out the rest of the field in different combinations.
Here’s how ESPN’s panel sorted it out this week:
Andrea Adelson had Texas at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State, BYU, Utah, LSU, Ole Miss and Boise State.
Kyle Bonagura went with Georgia first, then Notre Dame, Indiana, Miami, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, BYU, Utah, LSU, UCLA and Boise State.
Bill Connelly placed Texas atop his bracket, with Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, Miami, Utah, Indiana, UCLA, Pitt, BYU, Texas Tech and North Dakota State behind it.
David Hale’s list opened with Georgia, Miami, Texas, Alabama and Notre Dame, then Ohio State, Indiana, LSU, BYU, Ole Miss, Florida and Boise State.
Eli Lederman ranked Georgia first, followed by Notre Dame, Indiana, Miami, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, Utah, Oregon, Ole Miss, BYU and Boise State.
Max Olson started with Texas, then Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Indiana, BYU, Oregon, LSU, UCLA and Boise State.
Adam Rittenberg had Georgia at No. 1, with Texas, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, Indiana, Utah, LSU, Oregon, BYU and Boise State completing his 12.
Alex Scarborough chose Texas first, then Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Oregon, LSU, Texas Tech and Boise State.
Mark Schlabach’s ballot featured Texas, Georgia, Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Indiana, BYU, Oregon, Ole Miss, LSU and Boise State.
Jake Trotter’s projection was the most notable for the newcomers, putting Missouri at No. 9 and Oklahoma State at No. 10. His full list was Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Miami, BYU, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oregon and Boise State.
Paolo Uggetti rounded things out with Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Indiana, BYU, Oregon, Ole Miss, UCLA and Boise State.
In Other News...
LSU Gets A Reassuring Injury Report Before Kentucky Game
LSU heads into its SEC matchup with Kentucky carrying the same kind of availability report it was expected to have, with five Tigers ruled out and no late surprises attached to the list. For a team trying to keep its focus on the conference grind, the news matters less for who is missing than for the fact that the absences were anticipated well in advance, leaving the Tigers with a clearer read on how they will line up.
Kentuckys report is a little more layered, with five players out and a mix of questionable and probable tags that could still alter the depth chart by kickoff. The most encouraging sign for the Wildcats is that Jason Patterson and Aaron Gates are not on the injury report at all and are expected to be available, which gives Kentucky some stability as it tries to navigate a shorter margin for error in an SEC game that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Is Building An LSU Threat Ole Miss Can't Ignore
LSU is nearing the midpoint of its first season under Lane Kiffin, and the Tigers have already shown enough on defense to make the rest of the SEC pay attention. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt has been among those encouraged by what LSU has done on that side of the ball, pointing to a pass rush and overall defensive profile that could keep the Tigers in the race for the SEC Championship as the schedule gets more demanding.
For a team with Kiffin now running the show, the early storyline has been a little different than the usual offensive fireworks associated with his name. LSUs defense has stood out so far, and that creates a different kind of threat for opponents, including Ole Miss, which knows the tougher stretch is still ahead for the Tigers. The real test now is whether that strong start holds up once LSU gets to the hardest part of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Heads Into Kentucky With Major Injury Questions On Both Sides
LSUs injury picture keeps evolving as the Tigers get ready for Kentucky, and the list of unavailable players already includes several significant season-ending losses. Wide receiver Phillip Wright III, safety Dashawn Spears and linebacker Charles Ross are all done for the year, forcing LSU to keep reshuffling pieces on both sides of the ball while trying to maintain its footing in the SEC race.
Tight end Trey'Dez Green adds another layer of uncertainty, with his recovery timeline still unclear even as there is some hope he could return sooner than expected. In the meantime, LSU has been leaning on replacements like safety Tamarcus Cooley and linebacker Davhon Keys, and how well those fill-in roles hold up could shape what the Tigers look like against Kentucky and beyond. [Read more 🡒]