The College Football Playoff race for the 2026-27 season is shaping up to be a heavyweight battle, and while Indiana is the reigning champ, there's growing belief that several programs are better positioned to take the title this time around. According to a recent draft-style breakdown of contenders, the Ohio State Buckeyes are leading that charge.
Let’s start with the Buckeyes. Ohio State was picked No. 2 overall and first by one of the analysts, and it’s easy to see why.
This program is no stranger to elite talent, and once again, they’ve assembled one of the most complete rosters in the country. The schedule?
Sure, it’s a grind. But when you’ve got a quarterback like Julian Sayin, a top-tier wideout in Jeremiah Smith, and a versatile weapon like Bo Jackson in the backfield, you’ve got the kind of core that gives you a real shot at a third straight CFP appearance.
The Buckeyes have the firepower, the pedigree, and the motivation after falling short in recent playoff runs.
Texas also made the cut as a top contender, and for good reason. The Longhorns have been aggressive in the transfer portal, reloading with impact players across the board.
But what really changes the equation is Arch Manning. As the 2025 season wore on, Manning started looking like the quarterback everyone expected him to be-poised, accurate, and in full command of the offense.
If that version of Arch shows up in 2026, Texas is going to be a problem for anyone in their path.
Notre Dame, Miami, LSU, and Georgia round out the top six contenders, each bringing their own brand of talent and momentum into the new season. These are programs with deep rosters, elite coaching, and recent success on the recruiting trail. The race is wide open, and the margin for error is razor thin.
And then there's Indiana-the defending national champion, but a team facing serious questions heading into 2026. Head coach Curt Cignetti pulled off something special last year, guiding the Hoosiers to a historic title run behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a dynamic receiving corps featuring Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt. But all three are now off to the NFL, and replacing that kind of production is no small task.
The new-look Hoosiers will turn to TCU transfer Josh Hoover at quarterback, with Shazz Preston (from Tulane) and Nick Marsh (from Michigan State) stepping in at wide receiver. It’s a solid group on paper, but the chemistry and explosiveness Indiana had in 2025 won’t be easy to replicate. Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan have proven they can develop talent, but lightning doesn’t often strike twice-especially not in a conference and playoff landscape this stacked.
Indiana’s 2025 season was magical. No one’s taking that away from them.
But now, the Hoosiers enter a new chapter, one where expectations are sky-high and the margin for error is slim. With bluebloods like Ohio State, Texas, and Georgia reloading and refocused, the road back to the top is going to be steep.
This season, patience might be more important than pressure for Indiana. Because while the Hoosiers are the defending champs, the rest of the college football world is gearing up to knock them off the throne-and several contenders look more than ready to do just that.