College Football Bowl Projections: Big Ten and SEC Favorably Positioned for Upcoming Playoffs
A detailed look at the bowl projections as we anticipate the college football postseason, highlighting key teams like Ohio State and Texas at the forefront.
As we eagerly await the commencement of the college football season, projections are already underway regarding the postseason, focusing on several key teams such as Ohio State and Texas who aim for College Football Playoff spots. The finalized rosters are taking shape following spring practices, accompanied by strategic moves in the transfer portal.
For the upcoming 2025-26 postseason, 41 bowl games are on schedule, which includes six within the framework of the College Football Playoff. Currently, the top four champions from the Power Four conferences along with the highest-ranked Group of Five team will automatically qualify. These five will then be power-ranked for the four top seeds, each earning an opening-round bye. Meanwhile, the remaining seven at-large teams will be seeded according to the final playoff rankings released by the selection committee in December.
This year’s quarterfinal games are set to take place at the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls on December 31 and January 1. The semifinals will occur at the Fiesta and Peach Bowls the following week (January 8-9), culminating with the National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 19, 2026.
A brief overview of the anticipated matchups with the remaining spring practice sessions and transfer portal activities:
College Football Playoff
Quarterfinals
| Date | Game Location | Projection |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Rose Bowl, Pasadena | (1) Ohio State vs. (8/9) Winner |
| January 1 | Sugar Bowl, New Orleans | (2) Texas vs. (7/10) Winner |
| January 1 | Orange Bowl, Miami | (3) Clemson vs. (6/11) Winner |
| December 31 | Cotton Bowl, Arlington | (4) Iowa State vs. (5/12) Winner |
First Round
| Date | Location | Projection | Winner Faces |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 19 or 20 | Beaver Stadium, State College | (5) Penn State vs. (12) Navy | (4) Iowa State |
| December 19 or 20 | Autzen Stadium, Eugene | (8) Oregon vs. (9) LSU | (1) Ohio State |
| December 19 or 20 | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend | (6) Notre Dame vs. (11) Georgia | (3) Clemson |
| December 19 or 20 | Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa | (7) Alabama vs. (10) Miami (FL) | (2) Texas |
Several former Pac-12 teams now within the Big Ten have retained eligibility for Pac-12 tie-ins until the current bowl contract concludes in 2025. Teams like Oregon, USC, Washington, and UCLA, along with Washington State and Oregon State, will play each other twice in November to complete their respective fall schedules.
In the early playoff projections, there may be seven teams repeating their appearances, including a new Group of Five representative. The unpredictable race within the Big 12 might change the champion, with new at-large selections from the SEC and ACC striving for inclusion as well.
Don’t see your team? Check out Brad Crawford’s complete post-spring bowl projections.
