2026-27 College Football Playoff & Bowl Projections
The road to January.
WEEKLY PROJECTIONSWho gets in. Who’s on the edge. Where they could play.
Miami leads our projected field, BYU gets the Big 12 title nod after beating Notre Dame, and Ohio State stays in the bye group with a major quarterback question. Boise State narrowly gets our G6 selection ahead of unbeaten James Madison.
This first editorial edition includes the complete 12-team CFP field, eight teams on watch and 20 selected non-CFP bowl matchups. Bowl coverage is partial: an unassigned team has not been declared ineligible. These are our picks for the eventual postseason, not the field if the season ended today.
Projected CFP bracket
Our projected field and seeds. The top four seeds receive byes; seeds 5–8 host the first round. Later-round winners and bowl-site choices are not assigned.
Why these teams?
Miami gets our projected No. 1 seed. Its unbeaten start gives it the clearest position among our four projected conference winners. The narrow escape against Florida State is a warning that the ACC race is still open.
First editionGeorgia remains our SEC title pick after the Auburn loss. The win at Alabama still matters, and we expect a recovery rather than a season-long slide. The November 7 trip to Ole Miss is a major test of this projection.
First editionThe win over Notre Dame is the reason to put BYU ahead of the other unbeaten Big 12 contenders in this edition. We project the Cougars to win the league; the November 7 game at Utah could reverse that call.
First editionOhio State remains our narrow Big Ten title pick after winning at Indiana. Julian Sayin is reportedly out for several weeks, so the October 31 trip to USC carries added uncertainty. This bye projection assumes the Buckeyes can manage that absence; no return date is assumed.
First editionOne close loss at BYU does not remove Notre Dame from our projected field. We expect a top-12 finish and a home first-round game. The special Notre Dame bid applies only if the committee actually places the Irish in its final top 12.
First editionIndiana stays in despite the four-point loss to Ohio State. We project a strong enough finish for an at-large bid and a home game. Winning at Michigan this week would keep that case on track.
First editionTexas Tech is unbeaten and remains a serious Big 12 title alternative. We give BYU the championship in this edition but retain the Red Raiders with an at-large bid. A clean result at Cincinnati is the next requirement.
First editionOle Miss gets the last projected home game. The current one-loss position offers room to build a selection case, but Texas this week and Georgia on November 7 make this a vulnerable seed.
First editionUtah gives us a third Big 12 selection. That is an editorial bet on the unbeaten contenders finishing well, not a guaranteed conference allocation. Houston this week and BYU on November 7 could sharply change the order.
First editionTennessee takes an at-large place on the strength of its current one-loss position and our expectation of a competitive finish. South Carolina this week is an immediate test. This is a cut-line selection, not a safe berth.
First editionUCLA gets our final at-large place. We give the unbeaten start more weight than a straight power-rating sort would, while recognizing that stronger opponents could expose that choice. USC and the SEC bubble are the main alternatives.
First editionBoise State is our tentative choice for the highest-ranked eligible G6 team. We expect its eventual Pac-12 case to edge the alternatives, but unbeaten James Madison is a serious challenger. This slot is awarded to a team, not automatically to a conference champion.
First editionBubble watch
Teams nearest the cut, in editorial order. Movement compares published editorial editions.
LSU
First alternative: LSU has the team-strength profile to get back in, but two losses make the route narrower. We currently put the Tigers behind the one-loss and unbeaten selections. Winning at Auburn is the next opportunity to strengthen the case.
Texas
Texas already has a win over Ohio State, so the résumé cannot be dismissed. Two losses keep the Longhorns outside this edition. Beating Ole Miss would challenge both this exclusion and the Rebels' projected home seed.
Alabama
Alabama has a viable path, but we are not projecting another SEC place solely on reputation. At two losses, the next stretch must improve the case. Texas A&M this week is the immediate checkpoint.
USC
USC is close to our final at-large place. We currently prefer UCLA's unbeaten position. The October 31 meeting with Ohio State is a direct opportunity to make that preference untenable.
Houston
Houston is the next Big 12 team we would add. The Cougars face projected qualifier Utah this week: a win would force a fresh comparison rather than merely move Houston up a waiting list.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest is our leading alternative to a one-team ACC field. The 6-1 start keeps the Deacons relevant, but this edition projects Miami to win the league and gives the last at-large places elsewhere.
Kentucky
Kentucky's 6-1 record deserves a place in the discussion. We currently expect Tennessee and Ole Miss to finish with stronger selection cases, but Kentucky could overturn that judgment. Vanderbilt is this week's next hurdle.
James Madison
G6 watch: James Madison is unbeaten and could take Boise State's place. We currently project Boise to build the stronger final committee case; a perfect JMU finish would put that assumption under serious pressure. App State is next.
Projected bowl matchups
Editorial matchups outside the projected CFP field. Eligibility, affiliations, available slots and bowl selections can change. Only the bowls listed in this edition are assigned.
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
James Madison vs. UTSA
Provisional ESPN pool placement: James Madison vs. UTSA. JMU is assigned here only because this edition projects Boise State into the CFP. Alternative: a different Sun Belt contender if JMU earns the G6 bid.
New Orleans Bowl
Liberty vs. UL-Lafayette
CUSA vs. Sun Belt. Liberty and Louisiana are the picks. Alternative: Jacksonville State for CUSA. This is not an automatic assignment for either projected conference champion.
SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl
Arizona State vs. Oregon State
Former Pac-12 member Arizona State faces current Pac-12 member Oregon State. Both are projected to finish bowl-eligible. Oregon State can also enter the legacy pool at earlier bowls, so this placement is provisional.
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico vs. North Texas
Provisional Mountain West-American pool matchup: New Mexico vs. North Texas. Alternative: another bowl-eligible Mountain West team if New Mexico is placed elsewhere. Geography is a reason for this pick, not a bowl rule.
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Texas State vs. UNLV
New Pac-12 member vs. Mountain West. Texas State and UNLV are projected to become bowl-eligible. Alternative: Fresno State for the Pac-12 place.
68 Ventures Bowl
Jacksonville State vs. South Alabama
The published pool includes Sun Belt, CUSA and MAC teams. We project Jacksonville State vs. South Alabama. Alternative: Louisiana Tech on the Sun Belt side.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern
ACC vs. Big Ten. Pitt and Northwestern are the projected matchup. Alternative: Wisconsin on the Big Ten side.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Duke vs. Memphis
ACC vs. American. Duke and Memphis are the picks. Alternative: North Carolina for the ACC; regional appeal is an editorial consideration, not a formal entitlement.
Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl
Virginia Tech vs. Army
ACC vs. American. Virginia Tech and Army are our choices, with both still needing to complete their paths to bowl eligibility. Alternative: Memphis on the American side.
Holiday Bowl
Arizona vs. SMU
Former Pac-12 pool vs. ACC. Arizona is selected through the former Pac-12 pool, despite now playing in the Big 12. Alternative: Louisville on the ACC side.
JLab Birmingham Bowl
Auburn vs. USF
The published pool includes SEC, American and ACC teams. We project Auburn vs. USF. Alternative: another bowl-eligible SEC team if Auburn moves higher in the bowl order.
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Kansas State
ACC vs. Big 12. Wake Forest is our leading ACC selection outside the CFP; Kansas State follows Houston in our projected Big 12 bowl order. Alternative: SMU for the ACC.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Oregon vs. Houston
Former Pac-12 pool vs. Big 12. Oregon uses its former Pac-12 affiliation here. Alternative: USC on that side if its finish puts it ahead of Oregon.
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl
Kentucky vs. Nebraska
SEC vs. Big Ten. Kentucky and Nebraska are our picks. Alternative: Missouri on the SEC side, with the entire pool sensitive to the number of playoff selections.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Missouri vs. Clemson
Projected SEC-ACC matchup: Missouri vs. Clemson. Alternative: Florida on the SEC side. The date comes from the current bowl homepage; teams remain editorial selections.
Kinder's Texas Bowl
Texas vs. Oklahoma State
SEC vs. Big 12. Texas is our current pick if it misses the CFP; Oklahoma State is the Big 12 choice. Alternative: Texas A&M for the SEC.
Las Vegas Bowl
USC vs. Alabama
Former Pac-12 pool vs. SEC or Big Ten. This edition uses USC and Alabama. Both could instead reach the CFP; that would open places elsewhere in the bowl pool.
ReliaQuest Bowl
Florida vs. Michigan
SEC vs. Big Ten. Florida and Michigan are our selections. Alternative: Nebraska on the Big Ten side if the bowl order shifts.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Washington vs. Louisville
Former Pac-12 pool vs. ACC. Washington and Louisville are our picks. Alternative: Virginia Tech for the ACC; this is a destination forecast, not a selection-order guarantee.
Citrus Bowl
LSU vs. Iowa
SEC vs. Big Ten. LSU and Iowa are our selections from the teams left outside the CFP. Alternative: Kentucky could move into the SEC place if LSU reaches the playoff.
Team destinations
Search the FBS directory. Records and SP+ ranks appear only when supplied for this edition. An unassigned team has no published destination here; it is not a declaration of bowl ineligibility.
| Team / conference | Record | SP+ rank | Projected destination | CFP movement | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-FLACC | 6-0 | 3 | CFP · Seed 1 | First edition | Miami gets our projected No. 1 seed. Its unbeaten start gives it the clearest position among our four projected conference winners. The narrow escape against Florida State is a warning that the ACC race is still open. |
| GeorgiaSEC | 6-1 | 2 | CFP · Seed 2 | First edition | Georgia remains our SEC title pick after the Auburn loss. The win at Alabama still matters, and we expect a recovery rather than a season-long slide. The November 7 trip to Ole Miss is a major test of this projection. |
| BYUBig 12 | 6-0 | 9 | CFP · Seed 3 | First edition | The win over Notre Dame is the reason to put BYU ahead of the other unbeaten Big 12 contenders in this edition. We project the Cougars to win the league; the November 7 game at Utah could reverse that call. |
| Ohio StateBig Ten | 6-1 | 1 | CFP · Seed 4 | First edition | Ohio State remains our narrow Big Ten title pick after winning at Indiana. Julian Sayin is reportedly out for several weeks, so the October 31 trip to USC carries added uncertainty. This bye projection assumes the Buckeyes can manage that absence; no return date is assumed. |
| Notre DameIndependent | 6-1 | 4 | CFP · Seed 5 | First edition | One close loss at BYU does not remove Notre Dame from our projected field. We expect a top-12 finish and a home first-round game. The special Notre Dame bid applies only if the committee actually places the Irish in its final top 12. |
| IndianaBig Ten | 6-1 | 5 | CFP · Seed 6 | First edition | Indiana stays in despite the four-point loss to Ohio State. We project a strong enough finish for an at-large bid and a home game. Winning at Michigan this week would keep that case on track. |
| Texas TechBig 12 | 6-0 | 7 | CFP · Seed 7 | First edition | Texas Tech is unbeaten and remains a serious Big 12 title alternative. We give BYU the championship in this edition but retain the Red Raiders with an at-large bid. A clean result at Cincinnati is the next requirement. |
| Ole MissSEC | 5-1 | 14 | CFP · Seed 8 | First edition | Ole Miss gets the last projected home game. The current one-loss position offers room to build a selection case, but Texas this week and Georgia on November 7 make this a vulnerable seed. |
| UtahBig 12 | 6-0 | 10 | CFP · Seed 9 | First edition | Utah gives us a third Big 12 selection. That is an editorial bet on the unbeaten contenders finishing well, not a guaranteed conference allocation. Houston this week and BYU on November 7 could sharply change the order. |
| TennesseeSEC | 6-1 | 13 | CFP · Seed 10 | First edition | Tennessee takes an at-large place on the strength of its current one-loss position and our expectation of a competitive finish. South Carolina this week is an immediate test. This is a cut-line selection, not a safe berth. |
| UCLABig Ten | 6-0 | 19 | CFP · Seed 11 | First edition | UCLA gets our final at-large place. We give the unbeaten start more weight than a straight power-rating sort would, while recognizing that stronger opponents could expose that choice. USC and the SEC bubble are the main alternatives. |
| Boise StatePac-12 | 5-1 | 37 | CFP · Seed 12 | First edition | Boise State is our tentative choice for the highest-ranked eligible G6 team. We expect its eventual Pac-12 case to edge the alternatives, but unbeaten James Madison is a serious challenger. This slot is awarded to a team, not automatically to a conference champion. |
| AlabamaSEC | 5-2 | 12 | Las Vegas Bowl | — | Alabama has a viable path, but we are not projecting another SEC place solely on reputation. At two losses, the next stretch must improve the case. Texas A&M this week is the immediate checkpoint. |
| HoustonBig 12 | 6-1 | 18 | Valero Alamo Bowl | — | Houston is the next Big 12 team we would add. The Cougars face projected qualifier Utah this week: a win would force a fresh comparison rather than merely move Houston up a waiting list. |
| James MadisonSun Belt | 7-0 | 28 | StaffDNA Cure Bowl | — | G6 watch: James Madison is unbeaten and could take Boise State's place. We currently project Boise to build the stronger final committee case; a perfect JMU finish would put that assumption under serious pressure. App State is next. |
| KentuckySEC | 6-1 | 45 | Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl | — | Kentucky's 6-1 record deserves a place in the discussion. We currently expect Tennessee and Ole Miss to finish with stronger selection cases, but Kentucky could overturn that judgment. Vanderbilt is this week's next hurdle. |
| LSUSEC | 5-2 | 6 | Citrus Bowl | — | First alternative: LSU has the team-strength profile to get back in, but two losses make the route narrower. We currently put the Tigers behind the one-loss and unbeaten selections. Winning at Auburn is the next opportunity to strengthen the case. |
| TexasSEC | 4-2 | 8 | Kinder's Texas Bowl | — | Texas already has a win over Ohio State, so the résumé cannot be dismissed. Two losses keep the Longhorns outside this edition. Beating Ole Miss would challenge both this exclusion and the Rebels' projected home seed. |
| USCBig Ten | 6-1 | 17 | Las Vegas Bowl | — | USC is close to our final at-large place. We currently prefer UCLA's unbeaten position. The October 31 meeting with Ohio State is a direct opportunity to make that preference untenable. |
| Wake ForestACC | 6-1 | 20 | Pop-Tarts Bowl | — | Wake Forest is our leading alternative to a one-team ACC field. The 6-1 start keeps the Deacons relevant, but this edition projects Miami to win the league and gives the last at-large places elsewhere. |
| ArizonaBig 12 | 5-1 | — | Holiday Bowl | — | — |
| Arizona StateBig 12 | 3-3 | — | SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl | — | — |
| ArmyAmerican | 4-2 | — | Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl | — | — |
| AuburnSEC | 4-2 | — | JLab Birmingham Bowl | — | — |
| ClemsonACC | 4-2 | — | TaxSlayer Gator Bowl | — | — |
| DukeACC | 4-2 | — | Wasabi Fenway Bowl | — | — |
| FloridaSEC | 5-2 | — | ReliaQuest Bowl | — | — |
| IowaBig Ten | 5-1 | — | Citrus Bowl | — | — |
| Jacksonville StateCUSA | 5-2 | — | 68 Ventures Bowl | — | — |
| Kansas StateBig 12 | 4-2 | — | Pop-Tarts Bowl | — | — |
| LibertyCUSA | 5-1 | — | New Orleans Bowl | — | — |
| LouisvilleACC | 4-3 | — | Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | — | — |
| MemphisAmerican | 5-2 | — | Wasabi Fenway Bowl | — | — |
| MichiganBig Ten | 4-2 | — | ReliaQuest Bowl | — | — |
| MissouriSEC | 5-2 | — | TaxSlayer Gator Bowl | — | — |
| NebraskaBig Ten | 5-2 | — | Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl | — | — |
| New MexicoMountain West | 5-1 | — | Isleta New Mexico Bowl | — | — |
| North TexasAmerican | 4-2 | — | Isleta New Mexico Bowl | — | — |
| NorthwesternBig Ten | 5-1 | — | Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl | — | — |
| Oklahoma StateBig 12 | 4-2 | — | Kinder's Texas Bowl | — | — |
| OregonBig Ten | 4-2 | — | Valero Alamo Bowl | — | — |
| Oregon StatePac-12 | 5-2 | — | SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl | — | Record checked against the school's completed results. |
| PittsburghACC | 5-2 | — | Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl | — | — |
| SMUACC | 5-1 | — | Holiday Bowl | — | — |
| South AlabamaSun Belt | 4-2 | — | 68 Ventures Bowl | — | — |
| Texas StatePac-12 | 3-3 | — | Sheraton Hawaii Bowl | — | — |
| UL-LafayetteSun Belt | 5-2 | — | New Orleans Bowl | — | — |
| UNLVMountain West | 4-3 | — | Sheraton Hawaii Bowl | — | — |
| USFAmerican | 5-2 | — | JLab Birmingham Bowl | — | — |
| UTSAAmerican | 6-1 | — | StaffDNA Cure Bowl | — | — |
| Virginia TechACC | 5-2 | — | Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl | — | — |
| WashingtonBig Ten | 4-3 | — | Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | — | — |
| Air ForceMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| AkronMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Appalachian StateSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| ArkansasSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Arkansas StateSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Ball StateMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| BaylorBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Boston CollegeACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Bowling GreenMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| BuffaloMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| CaliforniaACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Central MichiganMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| CharlotteAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| CincinnatiBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Coastal CarolinaSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| ColoradoBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Colorado StatePac-12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| ConnecticutIndependent | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| DelawareCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| East CarolinaAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Eastern MichiganMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Florida AtlanticAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Florida InternationalCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Florida StateACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Fresno StatePac-12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Georgia SouthernSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Georgia StateSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Georgia TechACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| HawaiiMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| IllinoisBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Iowa StateBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| KansasBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Kennesaw StateCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Kent StateMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Louisiana TechSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| MarshallSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| MarylandBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| MassachusettsMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Miami-OHMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Michigan StateBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Middle TennesseeCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| MinnesotaBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Mississippi StateSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Missouri StateCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| NC StateACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| NavyAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| NevadaMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| New Mexico StateCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| North CarolinaACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| North Dakota StateMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Northern IllinoisMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| OhioMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| OklahomaSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Old DominionSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Penn StateBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| PurdueBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| RiceAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| RutgersBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Sacramento StateMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Sam HoustonCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| San Diego StatePac-12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| San Jose StateMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| South CarolinaSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Southern MissSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| StanfordACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| SyracuseACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| TCUBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| TempleAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Texas A&MSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| ToledoMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| TroySun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| TulaneAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| TulsaAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| UABAmerican | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| UCFBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| UL-MonroeSun Belt | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| UTEPMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Utah StatePac-12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| VanderbiltSEC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| VirginiaACC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Washington StatePac-12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| West VirginiaBig 12 | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Western KentuckyCUSA | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| Western MichiganMAC | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| WisconsinBig Ten | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
| WyomingMountain West | — | — | Not assigned in this edition | — | — |
No teams match these filters.
Methodology and sources
CLEATZ editorial forecast researched October 20, 2026, before that evening's games. Current records are descriptive; seeds, projected conference champions and bowl destinations are judgments about the rest of the season. We consider completed results, current standing, remaining tests, team strength and material availability news. No full-season simulation, numerical selection probability or sportsbook feed is used.
SP+ is one reference, attributed to Bill Connelly; its ranks are included for the CFP and bubble teams only. We do not turn SP+ order into a committee ranking. In this edition BYU's Notre Dame win, UCLA's unbeaten start and Ohio State's quarterback uncertainty change our choices. Three Big 12 bids are an explicit forecast, not an allocation.
We apply the CFP's current official 2026-27 format: the four Power Four champions, the highest-ranked eligible G6 team and the remaining at-large field, including the Notre Dame top-12 provision when applicable. Byes follow projected seed order. Some conference bowl pages still describe an older CFP qualification rule; the CFP's own rule governs this edition.
Bowl picks follow published affiliations, including the former Pac-12 pool. ESPN pool placements remain provisional; Cure and New Mexico conference background is less current than the 2026 date and American pool confirmations. Destinations also depend on eventual eligibility, selection decisions and participation. Alternatives in notes replace a pick in a later revision; they are not additional assignments.
Records were cross-checked against conference or school pages where available. SEC records and remaining supporting records use the current CLEATZ table. Oregon State is 5-2 in its school results, which supersede the lagging 4-2 conference table. Missing SP+ ranks elsewhere mean not included, not unranked. This is the first editorial edition, so there is no claimed week-over-week movement. Updating the public projection requires a newly researched edition; the plugin does not refresh these picks automatically.
Selections are reviewed and published as a dated weekly edition. Records, résumé assessments, eligibility and bowl affiliations are editorial research; upload validation does not independently fact-check them. SP+ ranks, when included, are Bill Connelly’s team-strength rankings, not his playoff predictions.
- CFP: official 2026-27 field and seeding rules
- Bill Connelly SP+ Week 8, displayed by CLEATZ; manually reviewed Oct 20
- ACC: current records
- Big Ten: current records
- Big 12: current records
- American: current records
- Sun Belt: current records
- CUSA: current records
- Pac-12: records; Oregon State cross-checked with school results
- Oregon State: current record and completed results
- Ohio State: results and remaining schedule
- Georgia: results and remaining schedule
- BYU: results and remaining schedule
- Reuters: October 20 update on Julian Sayin absence
- Pac-12: 2026 former-member and new-member bowl pools
- American: 2026 bowl assignments and pool
- CUSA: 2026 bowl agreements and New Orleans affiliation
- ESPN Events: 2026-27 bowl dates
- New Orleans Bowl: December 23 date
- Gator Bowl: ACC-SEC affiliation; FAQ also contains prior-year details
- ESPN Events: Cure Bowl participating conference pool
- New Mexico Bowl: conference background
- Official CFP format
- StaffDNA Cure Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- New Orleans Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Isleta New Mexico Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Sheraton Hawaii Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- 68 Ventures Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Wasabi Fenway Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Holiday Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- JLab Birmingham Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Pop-Tarts Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Valero Alamo Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- TaxSlayer Gator Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Kinder's Texas Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Las Vegas Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- ReliaQuest Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl affiliation / schedule source
- Citrus Bowl affiliation / schedule source
