24 Teams That Could Make the 2026 College Football Playoff Next Year

Ohio State wrapped the 2024 college football season as champions on Monday, and the sport enters a seven-month hiatus before the next kickoff in August. That doesn’t mean a lack of action in the interim, however, as rosters are sure to change dramatically in the offseason.

Noting the guaranteed fluidity of situations, the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff concludes with two dozen teams poised to compete for the postseason’s second edition. Plenty of this past season’s contenders should again be at the forefront, but keep an eye on some potential breakout teams that finished 2024 strong.

Ohio State

Ohio State didn’t just win the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff but rolled by an average margin of 17.5 points per game. The defending champions will head into 2025 reloading on defense with Caleb Downs and potentially Sonny Styles as two cornerstones. On offense, Jeremiah Smith closed the season looking like the best wide receiver in college football, giving whomever steps in at quarterback a prime weapon to ease the learning curve.

Georgia

A two-year title drought isn’t exactly comparable to the 41 years Georgia went between championships previously. With the wealth of talent Kirby Smart and his staff have recruited, however, missing the 2023 Playoff and going one-and-done in 2024 puts pressure on a Bulldogs bunch rife with future NFL players like Raylen Wilson and Nate Frazier. Gunner Stockton’s progression will be critical.

Penn State

Quarterback Drew Allar and edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton announcing their returns before the end of Penn State’s Playoff run set the tone for 2025. Penn State also adds support from the transfer portal, including safety King Mack (Alabama) and offensive lineman TJ Shanan Jr. (Texas A&M). The Nittany Lions draw both Oregon and Ohio State, the latter on the road, but both follow bye weeks in two games that could decide the Big Ten pecking order.

Notre Dame

The bad news for Notre Dame: Its national championship drought extends to 37 years with its title-game loss. The good news for the Fighting Irish is that they should be in contention again in 2025, returning running back Jeremiyah Love, linebackers Jaiden Ausberry and Jaylen Sneed, and getting back talented defensive lineman Boubacar Traore from injury. The early-season schedule is rocky, with road trips to Miami and Arkansas and home games against Texas A&M and Boise State. If the Irish get to mid-October undefeated or with one loss, they should get back to the Playoff.

Oregon

The only team to navigate the 2024 regular season unscathed, Oregon heads into its offseason with plenty of what-ifs. As for what now, Donte Moore replaces Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, and the UCLA transfer Moore has plenty of upside. The bigger void will be felt with Josh Conlery Jr. gone from the line, so Nevada transfer Isaiah World will have the proverbial world—and perhaps Oregon’s Playoff fate—in his hands.

Texas

The Arch Manning era officially begins next season, and Texas will need the ballyhooed young quarterback to be as advertised if the Longhorns are to reach a third straight Playoff. The favorable schedule that allowed Texas to go into this season’s Playoff without a Top 25 win flips in 2025. After opening with Ohio State, the Longhorns also travel to Florida and Georgia in SEC play.

Clemson

Rumors of Clemson’s demise might have been premature. The Tigers’ return to the top of the ACC in 2024 and giving Texas what was far and away the most competitive game of the Playoff’s first round sets the table for 2025. Cade Klubnik returns behind a veteran offensive line, and the defensive front has plenty of experience to anchor the Tigers on that side of the ball.

Michigan

The final national champions of the four-team Playoff era overcame the initial challenges of a rebuild to close out 2024 strong. In coach Sherrone Moore’s second season, the Wolverines return a bevy of talent, but freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is the key variable. If the blue-chip prospect delivers, Michigan has the piece it missed in 2024—and he’ll need to deliver early with games at Oklahoma and Nebraska in the opening month.

Ole Miss

After flirting with the top tier of the SEC the last few years, could 2025 be when Lane Kiffin finally gets Ole Miss over the hump? Plenty rides on Austin Simmons stepping up for outgoing quarterback Jaxson Dart. The addition of Penn State transfer wide receiver Harrison Wallace gives the Rebels an All-America-caliber weapon to keep the offense humming.

Arizona State

Kenny Dillingham came to Arizona State with a vision for building sustained success. The Sun Devils had their breakout perhaps ahead of schedule, but the program is structured in such a way that they shouldn’t be one-hit wonders thanks to Sam Leavitt, Clayton Smith, and Xavion Alford. Having to replace both Cam Skattebo and Jordyn Tyson on offense will test ASU’s depth, but signing Alabama transfer wideout Jaren Hamilton is a good start.

Florida

No team underwent a more dramatic midseason transformation than Florida. Coach Billy Napier heads into an offseason with positive momentum for the first time in his tenure, starting on defense with the returns of Tyreak Sapp, Caleb Banks, and George Gumbs Jr. If the young backfield of quarterback DJ Lagway and running back Jaden Baugh take strides as sophomores, watch out for the Gators in 2025.

Tennessee

Josh Heupel has succeeded where so many predecessors failed, restoring relevance at Tennessee. The coming offseason might be his staff’s biggest test yet, with the Vols replacing their best players on defense (James Pearson Jr.) and offense (Dylan Sampson). Nico Iamaleava needs to take a big step for Tennessee to stay near the front of the pack in the chaotic SEC.

Miami

After its success bringing in veteran transfer Cam Ward at quarterback, Miami again goes to the portal hoping for a big 2025 from Carson Beck. The Georgia transfer had flashes of brilliance that weren’t always sustained. Beck and Wisconsin import cornerback Xavier Lucas are two of the pillars for Miami’s pursuit of the Playoff appearance it just missed in 2024.

Alabama

If a team’s trajectory to end a season is indicative of where it’s headed in the following season, Alabama fans have reason to be nervous. A late-season blowout loss to Oklahoma and a no-show in the bowl loss to Michigan put pressure on Kalen DeBoer and his staff to restore the Crimson Tide to SEC title contention. There may not be a more fascinating offseason quarterback competition than Alabama’s between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and highly touted 2025 recruit Keelon Russell.

Boise State

Boise State has never had to replace a running back as productive as Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. Actually, no program ever, save Oklahoma State after Barry Sanders’ departure, has ever lost a ball-carrier who put up the numbers Jeanty did in 2024. Still, Spencer Danielson has Boise State poised to remain a standard-bearer for the Group of Five conferences, returning quarterback Maddux Madsen, tight end Matt Lauter, and edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan.

Kansas State

In a difficult-to-project Big 12, Kansas State’s consistency makes the Wildcats an easy team to tab for conference title contention. Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin Jr. will get the chance to fill DJ Giddens’ big shoes, but the multifaceted nature of the K-State offense isn’t reliant on one contributor.

Illinois

Coming off its first 10-win season since 2001, the next milestone for Illinois under Bret Bielema is Playoff contention. Luke Altmyer’s return at quarterback sets the foundation for the offense, while the defense gets a couple of big transfer additions from Tomiwa Durojaiye (Florida State) and James Thompson Jr. (Wisconsin) to join returning Gabe Jacas.

South Carolina

The disappointment of missing the 2024 season’s Playoff could be a lingering issue for South Carolina going into 2025 if its bowl-game loss to Illinois is any indication. But with returning standout freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, blue-chip defensive end Dylan Stewart, and one of the nation’s best defensive backs, Jalon Kilgore, the Gamecocks have the foundational pieces to make a run at SEC title contention.

Iowa State

The Cyclones were arguably the biggest winner of teams that didn’t reach the 2024 Playoff, closing out with the best record in program history after beating Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. If Rocco Becht can lead Iowa State to the Big 12 championship after losing the league title game in 2024, he could be a Heisman Trophy contender—but will have to throw to replacements for two 1,000-plus-yard receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to do so.

Oklahoma

The sour taste of losing the Armed Forces Bowl to Army West Point and finishing 2024 with a sub-.500 record was somewhat lessened for Oklahoma with the addition of Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer. Mateer could be an immediate difference-maker for a Sooners offense that struggled to match the consistency of a solid, albeit overworked defense.

Memphis

Group of Five programs have more difficult paths to the Playoff, competing with multiple conferences for that coveted postseason berth—and contending with programs that have more resources vying for their transfers. But coming off an 11-win 2024, Memphis scored one transfer-portal win already with All-American Athletic defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. opting to return. The Tigers also add Penn State tight end Jerry Cross, Arizona State safety Kamari Wilson, and Michigan defensive back Kody Jones.

SMU

SMU’s surprising run to the Playoff may have ended with a thud, but the Mustangs have reason for optimism that they’ll be in ACC contention again in 2025. Talented quarterback Kevin Jennings’ continued growth after a rough showing at Penn State will buoy SMU’s 2025, while a defense returning Ahmaad Moses and Isaiah Smith also adds potential difference-makers in Marcellus Barnes Jr. (Syracuse) and Terry Webb (Texas State).

Utah

Kyle Whittingham’s final season as Utes head coach marks one last opportunity for one of the best coaches of the 21st century to compete for a national championship. The Utah defense is always among the game’s best, and that should continue in 2025, but quarterback remains the most significant uncertainty the Utes must solidify to contend for the Big 12.

UNLV

Newly minted Rebels coach Dan Mullen inherits a program that predecessor Barry Odom turned from perennial cellar-dweller into Mountain West Conference contender in short order. Successfully leveraging the transfer portal worked well for UNLV, which Mullen’s staff is continuing with the additions of Jalen Lee (LSU), Jake Pope (Georgia), and Nick Elksnis (South Carolina).