The Associated Press released its first look at the 2026 College Football Playoff field, outlining a 12‑team bracket that will begin with four campus‑site games on Dec. 18 and culminate in a championship in Las Vegas on Jan. 25.

Projected top seeds

Notre Dame, the 2024 runner‑up, is expected to secure a spot if it finishes in the top‑12, with returning star cornerback Leonard Moore and quarterback C.J. Carr bolstering its case. Ohio State, despite losing 11 players to the NFL, remains a favorite, especially if quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith maintain Heisman‑level performances.

Duke’s former quarterback Darian Mensah, after a 4,000‑yard season, is projected to join a stronger ACC champion that could challenge for a playoff berth. Texas, led by Arch Manning, is seen as a potential semifinalist, while Oregon’s quarterback Dante Moore is highlighted as a possible national‑title contender.

Mid‑major and Group of Five outlook

The AP notes that South Florida could leapfrog several teams to reach the 12‑team field, though it may still face challenges against power‑conference opponents. LSU, under Lane Kiffin, and Oklahoma are also mentioned as possible dark‑horse entries.

Group of Six (formerly Group of Five) programs collectively returned only 23 of 76 all‑conference players from the previous season, suggesting limited depth for a deep playoff run.

Potential controversies

The article hints that teams left out—such as Alabama, Ole Miss, BYU and USC—might call for reforms or even legal action, and that the SEC could eventually support expanding the playoff to 24 teams.

Overall, the AP’s early forecast underscores the continued opacity of the playoff selection process, where identical records can carry vastly different weight depending on conference affiliation and timing of losses.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.