Skip to main content
parlae.ioBeta
Sign in

College Football Playoff projection: the field if the season ended today

If the season ended today, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State would be the top four seeds and skip the first round. This is a projection, not a prediction: it applies the 2026-27 rules to the AP Top 25, Week 7, standing in for the selection committee's ranking until its first release on Nov. 3, with each conference's current leader as its champion.

The projected 12-team field

  1. 1

    Georgia(6-0)BYE

    Ranked 1, 4-0 SEC. Automatic bid as the projected conference champion (SEC).

    • vs Auburn, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on ESPN
    • vs Florida (neutral site), Sat, Oct 31, 3:30 PM ET on ABC
    • at No. 9 Ole Miss, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • and 3 more
  2. 2

    Notre Dame(6-0)BYE

    Ranked 2. At-large bid.

    • at No. 8 BYU, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on ABC
    • vs Navy (neutral site), Sat, Oct 31, 12:00 PM ET
    • vs No. 3 Miami, Sat, Nov 7, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • and 3 more
  3. 3

    Miami(5-0)BYE

    Ranked 3, 3-0 ACC. Automatic bid as the projected conference champion (ACC).

    • vs Florida State, Sat, Oct 17, 7:00 PM ET on ESPN
    • vs Pittsburgh, Sat, Oct 24, 12:00 PM ET
    • at North Carolina, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  4. 4

    Ohio State(5-1)BYE

    Ranked 4, 3-0 Big Ten. Automatic bid as the projected conference champion (Big Ten).

    • Live: 0-0 at No. 5 Indiana (10:56 - 1st)
    • at No. 19 USC, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs Oregon, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • and 3 more
  5. 5

    Indiana(6-0)

    Ranked 5, 3-0 Big Ten. At-large bid.

    • Live: 0-0 vs No. 4 Ohio State (10:56 - 1st)
    • at Michigan, Sat, Oct 24, 12:00 PM ET on Fox
    • vs Minnesota, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 3 more
  6. 6

    Alabama(5-1)

    Ranked 6, 3-1 SEC. At-large bid.

    • at No. 14 Tennessee, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on ABC
    • vs Texas A&M, Sat, Oct 24, 3:30 PM ET on ABC
    • at No. 22 LSU, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • and 3 more
  7. 7

    Texas(4-1)

    Ranked 7, 1-1 SEC. At-large bid.

    • Live: 0-0 vs Florida (5:56 - 1st)
    • vs No. 9 Ole Miss, Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 PM ET on ABC
    • vs No. 16 Mississippi State, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  8. 8

    BYU(5-0)

    Ranked 8, 3-0 Big 12. Automatic bid as the projected conference champion (Big 12).

    • vs No. 2 Notre Dame, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on ABC
    • at UCF, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • vs Arizona State, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  9. 9

    Ole Miss(4-1)

    Ranked 9, 2-1 SEC. At-large bid.

    • vs No. 13 Missouri, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on SEC Network
    • at No. 7 Texas, Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 PM ET on ABC
    • vs Auburn, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  10. 10

    Texas Tech(5-0)

    Ranked 10, 2-0 Big 12. At-large bid.

    • vs Arizona State, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on Fox
    • at Cincinnati, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • vs Arizona, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  11. 11

    Utah(5-0)

    Ranked 11, 2-0 Big 12. At-large bid.

    • at Colorado, Sat, Oct 17, 10:15 PM ET on ESPN
    • vs No. 20 Houston, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • at Cincinnati, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • and 4 more
  12. 12

    Boise State(5-1)

    Ranked 23, 2-0 Pac-12. Automatic bid as the highest-ranked Group of Six team (Pac-12).

    • at Washington State, Sat, Oct 24, 6:00 PM ET on USA Net
    • vs Texas State, Sat, Oct 31, 10:00 PM ET on CW
    • at Colorado State, Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM ET on USA Net
    • and 2 more

Seeds follow the ranking. Bold games are against ranked opponents. Kickoffs are Eastern time.

First-round games if the season ended today

  • No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Indiana

    Winner meets No. 4 Ohio State in the quarterfinals.

  • No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 BYU

    Winner meets No. 1 Georgia in the quarterfinals.

  • No. 11 Utah at No. 6 Alabama

    Winner meets No. 3 Miami in the quarterfinals.

  • No. 10 Texas Tech at No. 7 Texas

    Winner meets No. 2 Notre Dame in the quarterfinals.

The first round is played on campus Dec. 18 and 19, at the higher seed. The quarterfinals follow on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, the semifinals on Jan. 14 and 15, and the title game on Jan. 25, 2027 in Las Vegas.

Advertisement

Conference leaders today

The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions qualify automatically. We project the team with the best conference record; ties go to the higher-ranked team, and the title games decide the real champions.

ConferenceLeaderConfOverall
AmericanUTSA(tied)2-05-1
ACCMiami3-05-0
Big 12BYU(tied)3-05-0
Big TenOhio State(tied)3-05-1
Conference USAJacksonville State(tied)3-05-2
MACEastern Michigan(tied)3-04-3
Mountain WestUNLV(tied)2-04-2
Pac-12Boise State(tied)2-05-1
SECGeorgia4-06-0
Sun BeltJames Madison(tied)3-06-0

On the bubble: the first four out

The four highest-ranked teams outside the field today, and every game they have left.

  • UCLA(5-0)

    First four out, ranked 12; 3-0 Big Ten.

    • vs Wisconsin, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • vs Michigan State, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • vs Nevada, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • at Minnesota, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs Illinois, Fri, Nov 13, 9:00 PM ET on Fox
    • at Michigan, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs No. 19 USC, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Missouri(5-1)

    First four out, ranked 13; 2-1 SEC.

    • at No. 9 Ole Miss, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on SEC Network
    • at Arkansas, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs No. 7 Texas, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at No. 1 Georgia, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • vs No. 15 Kentucky, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Oklahoma, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Tennessee(5-1)

    First four out, ranked 14; 2-1 SEC.

    • vs No. 6 Alabama, Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET on ABC
    • at South Carolina, Sat, Oct 24, 3:30 PM ET
    • vs No. 15 Kentucky, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at Texas A&M, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • vs No. 22 LSU, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • at Vanderbilt, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Kentucky(5-1)

    First four out, ranked 15; 3-1 SEC.

    • at Oklahoma, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network
    • vs Vanderbilt, Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 PM ET on SEC Network
    • at No. 14 Tennessee, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs Florida, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at No. 13 Missouri, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Louisville, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

Still in the hunt

The rest of the ranked teams, and any power-conference team level with its leader on losses: a run of wins, or a conference title, puts each of them in the conversation.

  • Mississippi State(4-1)

    Ranked 16; 2-1 SEC.

    • Live: 0-0 at No. 22 LSU (5:49 - 1st)
    • vs Oklahoma, Sat, Oct 24, 3:30 PM ET
    • at No. 7 Texas, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs Vanderbilt, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs Auburn, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • vs Tennessee Tech, Sat, Nov 21, 1:00 PM ET on SECN+
    • at No. 9 Ole Miss, Fri, Nov 27, 12:00 PM ET on ABC

  • Iowa(5-1)

    Ranked 17; 2-1 Big Ten.

    • at Minnesota, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • vs Wisconsin, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • at No. 25 Northwestern, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs Purdue, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at Illinois, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Nebraska, Fri, Nov 27, 12:00 PM ET on CBS

  • Oklahoma State(4-1)

    Ranked 18; 2-0 Big 12.

    • at No. 20 Houston, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on Fox
    • vs Colorado, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • at Iowa State, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • at Kansas State, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs No. 10 Texas Tech, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at Arizona State, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Kansas, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • USC(6-1)

    Ranked 19; 3-1 Big Ten.

    • at Wisconsin, Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • vs No. 4 Ohio State, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • at No. 5 Indiana, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • vs Maryland, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • at No. 12 UCLA, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Houston(5-1)

    Ranked 20; 2-1 Big 12.

    • vs No. 18 Oklahoma State, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on Fox
    • at No. 11 Utah, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • vs Cincinnati, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at Colorado, Fri, Nov 13, 10:15 PM ET on ESPN
    • at West Virginia, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Baylor, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Wake Forest(5-1)

    Ranked 21; 3-1 ACC.

    • at California, Sat, Oct 17, 10:30 PM ET on ESPN2
    • vs Virginia, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs Merrimack, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at No. 24 SMU, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at Georgia Tech, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Duke, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • LSU(4-2)

    Ranked 22; 1-2 SEC.

    • Live: 0-0 vs No. 16 Mississippi State (6:06 - 1st)
    • at Auburn, Sat, Oct 24, 12:00 PM ET
    • vs No. 6 Alabama, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • vs No. 7 Texas, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at No. 14 Tennessee, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • at Arkansas, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • SMU(4-1)

    Ranked 24; 2-1 ACC.

    • Live: 0-0 vs Virginia (3:41 - 1st)
    • vs California, Sat, Oct 24, 12:00 PM ET on CW
    • at Syracuse, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs Virginia Tech, Fri, Nov 6, 7:00 PM ET on ESPN
    • vs No. 21 Wake Forest, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at No. 2 Notre Dame, Sat, Nov 21, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • at Stanford, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Northwestern(4-1)

    Ranked 25; 1-1 Big Ten.

    • Live: 0-0 at Michigan State (8:23 - 1st)
    • vs Rutgers, Sat, Oct 24, 12:00 PM ET on Peacock
    • at Oregon, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs No. 17 Iowa, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at No. 4 Ohio State, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at Minnesota, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Illinois, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Baylor(4-1)

    2-0 in Big 12 play, tied with the leader on losses; 2-0 Big 12.

    • vs TCU, Sat, Oct 17, 7:00 PM ET on FS1
    • at Kansas, Sat, Oct 24, time TBA
    • at UCF, Fri, Oct 30, 7:30 PM ET on ESPN
    • vs Iowa State, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at No. 8 BYU, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • vs No. 10 Texas Tech, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • at No. 20 Houston, Sat, Nov 28, time TBA

  • Wisconsin(4-1)

    2-0 in Big Ten play, tied with the leader on losses; 2-0 Big Ten.

    • at No. 12 UCLA, Sat, Oct 17, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • vs No. 19 USC, Sat, Oct 24, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
    • at No. 17 Iowa, Sat, Oct 31, time TBA
    • vs Rutgers, Sat, Nov 7, time TBA
    • at Maryland, Sat, Nov 14, time TBA
    • at Purdue, Sat, Nov 21, time TBA
    • vs Minnesota, Fri, Nov 27, 7:30 PM ET on NBC

How the 2026-27 field is chosen

The playoff stays at 12 teams for 2026-27. The champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC qualify, with the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, the MAC, the Mountain West, the Pac-12 and the Sun Belt, and the next seven highest-ranked teams. Notre Dame is in when it ranks in the top 12. The top four teams in the committee's final ranking are seeded 1 to 4 and get byes; the rest are seeded 5 to 12 by ranking, and an automatic qualifier ranked outside the top 12 is seeded at the bottom. There is no re-seeding.

Advertisement

James Madison is the next Group of Six team behind the current holder of that bid. The committee publishes its first ranking on Nov. 3 and its last on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec. 6. Until Nov. 3 this page uses the AP poll.

See the full AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll

By the Parlae deskProjection updated Oct 17, 2026 at 12:33 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number