The overlooked contenders
The latest preseason College Football Playoff rankings left out five programs that many analysts expected to see among the top contenders, a omission that has set the stage for a season driven by redemption.
Louisville, an ACC program, returns a core group of starters, including running back Isaac Brown and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, and is targeting both the conference title and a spot in the playoff bracket.
Arizona, coming off a strong second season under Brent Brennan, brings back quarterback Noah Fifita and an offensive line that helped the team secure nine wins last year, positioning it for back‑to‑back winning campaigns.
Virginia, fresh off a historic 2025 season, features quarterback Beau Pribula and edge rusher Matthew Fobbs‑White, both of whom are expected to fuel another push toward the playoff.
Illinois, a Big Ten team, has posted at least nine victories in each of the past two seasons under coach Bret Bielema, with quarterback Katin Houser and top rushers such as Ca’Lil Valentine leading the offense.
Boise State, a non‑power conference champion, returns 13 starters from its 2024 Mountain West title‑winning squad, including quarterback Maddux Madsen and rushing leader Dylan Riley, aiming to represent the Pac‑12 in the playoff conversation.
Each of these squads now faces the challenge of translating preseason expectations into on‑field results, with the full slate of games providing ample opportunity to prove their playoff worth.