With Indiana's shocking 2025 title run over, the 2026 College Football Playoff speculation has begun. Bill Connelly's way-too-early Top 25 projects a 12-team field featuring Ole Miss at Miami, BYU at Ohio State, and Texas A&M at Texas Tech. A notable absence is a Group of 5 representative, reflecting the current talent drain.

This projection ignores the sport's volatility. Last year, preseason picks like Texas, Penn State, and Clemson all whiffed. The transfer portal and coaching carousel make early rankings a risky business, especially for programs like Hawai'i seeking an automatic bid as a potential Group of 5 champion.

The race will hinge on conference title battles and the Group of 5 auto-bid. While Indiana proved a perfect regular season is possible, replicating that in 2026 seems unlikely. The real contenders will emerge from the chaos of the upcoming season, not a January projection.