2026 Week 10: Projecting the 24‑Team College Football Playoff Field

Here’s the 24‑team College Football Playoff projection for Week 10, compiled by the selection committee chairman. With the postseason format moving toward expansion from its current 12 teams, the bracket is now imagined as a 24‑team field. The seeding reflects the chairman’s weekly top‑25 rankings and the new automatic‑qualifier rules.

The format features four Power Four conference champions and the highest‑ranked Group of Six team as automatic qualifiers, while the remaining 19 spots go to at‑large teams based on their current rankings. Only three of the listed programs are undefeated, underscoring that every game still matters for postseason inclusion.

Selection criteria are straightforward:

• The four Power Four conference champions and the highest‑ranked Group of Six team are automatic qualifiers.
• The remaining 19 slots are filled by the top‑ranked at‑large teams from the weekly top‑25 list.

Below is the full 24‑team hypothetical CFP field if the 2026 season concluded after Week 9.

24‑TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIELD IN 2026

AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS: POWER FOUR CHAMPS, HIGHEST‑RANKED GROUP OF SIX TEAM

1. Miami (ACC champion)
2. Georgia (SEC champion)
3. Indiana (Big Ten champion)
4. Utah (Big 12 champion)
20. Boise State (highest‑ranked Group of Six team)

Miami remains a towering presence in the rankings. Its double‑digit road victory at Wake Forest has moved the Hurricanes into the ranked column, and the upcoming trip to Notre Dame will serve as a definitive referendum on their 2026 resurgence. A win would reinforce Miami’s status as the nation’s best team, while a loss would likely cost them the top seed and a favorable playoff position.

CFP AT‑LARGE BIDS: FIRST‑ROUND BYES

5. Notre Dame
6. UCLA
7. Kentucky
8. Alabama

Notre Dame, UCLA, Kentucky and Alabama all earned byes in the first round, meaning they will begin the postseason at home. For the Fighting Irish, a bye offers a chance to recover from any injuries, fine‑tune game plans and host a favorable first‑round opponent. A loss to No. 1 Miami this weekend could drop them out of the top‑8, forcing them into a road matchup and eliminating the bye advantage—an illustration of how every regular‑season game still carries weight.

CFP AT‑LARGE BIDS: FIRST‑ROUND HOME GAMES

9. Texas
10. Ole Miss
11. USC
12. Ohio State
13. Texas Tech
14. Tennessee
15. BYU
16. Houston

Ohio State’s recent loss to USC moved the Buckeyes from the bye group into the home‑game bracket. The defeat highlighted issues with clock management, red‑zone efficiency and defensive lapses. If the Buckeyes lose another game, they could fall into the three‑loss category, which historically makes a 12‑team CFP berth unlikely and would force them into a tougher road path in a 24‑team format.

CFP AT‑LARGE BIDS: FIRST‑ROUND ROAD GAMES

17. Missouri
18. LSU
19. Iowa
20. Boise State (automatic qualifier)
21. Wake Forest
22. Florida
23. UTSA
24. New Mexico

LSU remains in the mix despite a 2‑game losing streak. A victory over Alabama this weekend could catapult the Tigers back into the top‑16 and potentially swap positions with the Crimson Tide. The Tigers possess the talent to return to the national conversation, but they must stay healthy and avoid further setbacks to secure a favorable seeding in the expanded playoff.

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