The race for the Group of Six’s College Football Playoff spot is tilting toward the reborn Pac-12, even with undefeated James Madison still unbeaten and rolling through the Sun Belt.
National projections continue to favor No. 21 Boise State, which sits at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, as the likeliest CFP representative from the Group of Six. The Broncos were on a bye last week and now head to Washington State on Saturday for a road matchup against the 1-6 Cougars, who are 0-3 in conference play.
Oregon State is also gaining traction in the conversation. Brad Crawford of CBS Sports went with the Beavers for the first time this season, projecting them to claim the Group of Six’s automatic bid to the playoff.
Oregon State is 5-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play, and it enters its bye week riding five straight wins after competitive losses to Big 12 contenders No. 14 Houston and No.
8 Texas Tech.
The path between Boise State and Oregon State gets even more interesting on Nov. 14, when the two meet in Boise. The winner of that game will likely host the Pac-12 championship game, which is set for Dec. 4.
The sportsbook market has Boise State and James Madison at the front of the pack, with Boise State listed at +148 and James Madison at +190. After that come New Mexico at +400, UTSA at +850 and Oregon State at +1200.
Here’s how national bowl projections are lining up for Pac-12 teams entering Week 8 of the 2026 college football season:
Hawaii Bowl: San Diego State vs. North Dakota State
Frisco Football Classic: Tulane vs. San Diego State
New Mexico Bowl: North Dakota State vs. Oregon State
In Other News...
Boise States Playoff Grip Suddenly Looks Less Comfortable
Boise State may still sit atop the Group of Six playoff conversation in the eyes of DraftKings Sportsbook, but the race has grown a little less comfortable after James Madison boosted its case with a recent win. Spencer Danielson has tried to keep his team locked in on the present instead of the rankings, and from an Oregon State perspective, that kind of margin-for-error talk feels familiar in a year when every remaining result seems to matter just a little more.
The Beavers have quietly surged in the background of the broader playoff picture, and their odds have shortened sharply over the past two weeks as they try to keep pace with the same shifting race. Boise States immediate task is Washington State, where it is still a 13.5-point favorite, but Oregon States place in the conversation is only going to get louder as the calendar turns and the stakes around the Pac-12s final weeks keep climbing. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Woods Is Back With Oklahoma State In A New Role
Donovan Woods is back in Stillwater, this time in a position aimed at strengthening the off-field side of Oklahoma State athletics. The former Cowboys football standout, who played at OSU from 2004 to 2007, has returned to the department after also having experience working with the OSU Foundation.
Woods new job places him in a key development role tied to the universitys athletic future, where the emphasis is on building and maintaining support for the program. For a department that leans heavily on relationships and long-term backing, bringing back someone with both playing experience and foundation familiarity is a notable move, even if the full scope of his day-to-day responsibilities is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Just Got A Boost Fans Will Love On The Trail
Oregon States staff got a little more national recognition this week, with associate head coach Michael Plank earning a spot on Silver Waves Medias Top 100 Most Influential/Impactful Assistant Coaches. It is the kind of nod that reflects more than one seasons work, and for the Beavers it adds another sign that the programs basketball operation is drawing respect beyond Corvallis.
Plank arrived in the spring of 2026 after five seasons at San Francisco, where he helped guide multiple successful runs and NCAA Tournament appearances. His resume also stretches through Washington State, City College of San Francisco, Portland State and pro-level experience with the Milwaukee Bucks and the FIBA USA Mens National Team camp, which helps explain why his name continues to carry weight in coaching circles. [Read more 🡒]