Ohio State, Georgia and Other Contenders for the National Championship in 2026-27

Indiana has achieved the dream, knocking off Miami 27-21 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

But we, like Bill Belichick to Cincinnati, are moving on to next season.

Most of the usual suspects are generating early hype for the 2026 campaign, which is poised to start a similar way to 2025 with Ohio State and Texas meeting in September. Georgia and Notre Dame are among the prime contenders, while Alabama and Miami aren't far behind.

The road to the 2026-27 College Football Playoff—which ends in the flashy, glittering lights of Las Vegas—is littered with intrigue.

More on the Radar

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Bear Bachmeier

Seeing these programs ascend may take a fortunate bounce or two, but unexpected contenders emerge every season.

BYU lacked a signature win for a convincing CFP résumé in 2025, and a penchant for needing 10-point comebacks on the road was a concerning trend. However, the Cougars have an exciting, young QB in Bear Bachmeier and what looks like a manageable, Texas Tech-less schedule.

Michigan has a far tougher slate, but quarterback Bryce Underwood has all-world talent and Kyle Whittingham is a rock-solid head coach.

USC merits a mention after a nine-win campaign, and SMU is quietly 31-10 over the last three seasons. Utah returns standout QB Devon Dampier, who propelled the Utes to an 11-win year in 2025.

They'll likely all hover on the fringe of playoff conversations.

SEC Chasers

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Lane Kiffin

In short, this collection of programs is simply the ones we can't ignore.

Should you believe in Texas A&M finally being able to win important games? Will the Oklahoma offense not disappear down the stretch? Is the Lane Kiffin-fueled makeover at LSU going to produce immediate results?

Mike Elko has clearly improved the A&M program in two seasons, but a tougher slate—on paper—appears to loom for the Aggies in 2026.

Oklahoma is also poised to meet a gauntlet, playing at Michigan and Georgia in September alone. Kiffin's debut season at LSU features Clemson, Ole Miss and Texas during the opening month, as well.

The good news? Experienced QBs Marcel Reed, John Mateer and Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt will be behind center, respectively, for this SEC trio.

Good Teams with QB Questions

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Mario Cristobal

At these schools, depth of talent is not in question. Sure, a few uncertainties exist with production to replace, but the program is built to compete.

If, and that's a big if, the QB situation ends up settling nicely.

Miami is a prime example as Carson Beck departs. Under Mario Cristobal, the 'Canes have recruited high-end classes and wisely used the transfer portal—from which Cam Ward and Beck recently picked Miami and may be used again.

Ty Simpson, meanwhile, has taken the NFL draft route and left Alabama with a vacancy. But the Crimson Tide always have championship-worthy expectations.

Ole Miss is waiting for an eligibility ruling on Trinidad Chambliss, the breakout star transfer from Ferris State who helped the Rebels make the CFP semifinals. If he returns in 2026, Ole Miss has tremendous upside.

Expected Challengers

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Dante Moore

Stability is paramount for championship hopefuls, and few programs can match the standards at Georgia, Oregon and Notre Dame. As a bonus, all three of them return a well-respected quarterback.

Kirby Smart has created a powerhouse at Georgia and will be aiming for a fifth CFP trip in the last six seasons.

Oregon received a boost with the semi-surprising return of Dante Moore, who passed up the NFL to chase college glory. Dan Lanning has postseason issues to address yet is 48-8 with a pair of Playoff trips in four seasons at UO.

Notre Dame unceremoniously missed out on the recent CFP, but Marcus Freeman—who boasts a 43-11 record in his four years—is a fantastic coach with a talented roster. And the Fighting Irish won't be short on motivation, either.

The closer here, Texas Tech, may be a little surprising. But after an unbeaten run to a Big 12 crown and CFP appearance, it's not shocking.

The money-infused program has restocked its receiving corps and defense in the portal and landed Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby as the prized addition.

Initial Favorites

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Julian Sayin

New season, same storyline.

Ohio State has been a model of consistency since the early 2000s, routinely notching double-digit wins and competing for national titles. Ryan Day is absolutely under more pressure to win in 2026 following the upset loss to Miami, yet the Buckeyes' roster is once again loaded.

Also again, OSU takes on Texas in a September showdown—this time at UT and on the second week of the campaign. Arch Manning is back to lead the Longhorns, who stumbled in 2025 but still finished with 10 victories.

Indiana deservingly wraps up the favorites.

Yes, the Hoosiers must replace a bunch of influential seniors, including Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza. Veteran TCU transfer Josh Hoover is expected to replace him, though, and Curt Cignetti has earned all possible benefit of the doubt to consider IU a contender and enter 2026 as reigning champions.