USA TODAY Sports has released its annual preseason bowl projections, outlining a twelve‑team College Football Playoff that blends established powerhouses with surprising newcomers.
Who Holds the Top Seeds?
In the US LBM Coaches Poll, Ohio State sits at No.1, yet the model predicts Georgia will capture the SEC championship and earn the coveted No.1 seed in the playoff.
SEC’s Expanded Presence
Beyond the four automatic qualifiers, the SEC projects Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi to secure additional spots, underscoring the conference’s depth and dominance.
Big Ten and Big 12 Contenders
Big Ten teams Oregon and Indiana earn projected playoff berths after strong finishes to the previous season, while BYU, the Big 12 champion, receives a postseason slot.
Navy represents the Group of Six, illustrating the pathway for non‑Power Five programs to break into the expanded field.
Unpredictability Remains Central
The expansion to twelve teams has heightened uncertainty, and the model notes that only eleven of the twenty‑four teams ranked in the top tier over the past two seasons secured a place, reminding fans that projections are far from certain.
As the season unfolds, these projections will be refined, but the early picture paints a landscape where tradition and surprise coexist, setting the stage for a dramatic postseason.