CBS Sports projects Ohio State as 2026 national champions in preseason CFP bracket
The media outlet’s latest projection outlines a path to the championship for the Buckeyes, while highlighting significant coaching impacts and early-season matchups that could reshape the playoff landscape.
CBS Sports has released its preseason projection for the 2026 College Football Playoff, identifying Ohio State as the predicted national champions and placing Notre Dame and Georgia at the top of the 12-team bracket. The projection, published ahead of the season kickoff, outlines a field where the top four seeds—Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami—receive first-round byes.
The bracket anticipates a challenging path for the top contenders, with Ole Miss projected to deliver a significant upset by defeating No. 1 seed Notre Dame in the first round. The Rebels are expected to host the Irish, leveraging a strong home-field advantage against a Notre Dame team projected to go undefeated in the regular season before exiting the tournament.
In the quarterfinals, Texas is tipped to defeat Miami (FL) in a matchup described as a heavyweight contest. The Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning and head coach Steve Sarkisian, are projected to advance to the semifinals, where they are expected to eliminate Ole Miss. This projection references a potential Week 2 clash between Texas and Ohio State, suggesting the championship game could serve as a rematch of that early-season encounter.
The semifinal round features Ohio State facing Georgia, with the Buckeyes projected to win. The analysis highlights Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith as decisive factors against the Bulldogs’ defence. Meanwhile, Indiana, under head coach Curt Cignetti, is projected to reach the semifinals before falling to Georgia, despite losing key contributors from their previous national championship season.
Other first-round outcomes include Texas defeating Boise State, who are projected to win the Pac-12 to secure the No. 12 seed. LSU, led by new head coach Lane Kiffin, is predicted to beat Texas Tech, while Indiana is expected to overcome Texas A&M. The projection concludes with Ohio State defeating Texas in the national championship game in Las Vegas, crediting the coaching staff and talent depth for their success.
