By : Ethan Horner
College football is finally back, and the 2026 season has the potential to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. There is plenty of returning talent across the country, and unlike some seasons, it feels like the race for the national championship is completely wide open.
With that being said, I am giving you guys my complete College Football Playoff bracket, including my five guaranteed conference champions, at-large teams, and ultimately, who I believe will be holding the national championship trophy at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Big Ten Champion: Oregon Ducks
I think the Ducks are easily the most talented roster in the country, with quarterback Dante Moore being at the center of that. Dante could have been the No. 1 overall pick in last season's NFL Draft but chose to stay at Oregon to try and win a national championship. I think a Big Ten Championship is very much the floor for this Ducks team.
SEC Champion: Georgia Bulldogs
I am picking the Georgia Bulldogs to win their fourth SEC Championship in five years. I think it is just a no-brainer. Texas has all the pressure, and I think Kirby will get it done again and win another SEC title with a strong defense and returning quarterback Gunner Stockton.
ACC Champion: Miami Hurricanes
I am picking the Miami Hurricanes to finally win their first conference championship as a member of the ACC. The Hurricanes are loaded with talent and primed for another national title run with transfer quarterback Darian Mensah at the helm.
The Canes have a very favorable ACC schedule and should easily find themselves in the conference championship game, where they will probably play Louisville or SMU. I think they should handle either of those teams. This is the Canes' conference to lose.
Big 12 Champion: Texas Tech Red Raiders
I am picking the Red Raiders to win their second straight Big 12 Championship. Texas Tech has one of the easiest schedules in the country, and they also have a really talented roster after going heavy in the portal and spending north of $12 million.
The big story is that quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who they got in the portal, is no longer eligible to play college football due to gambling. But I believe in quarterback Will Hammond. As long as he can stay healthy, he knows this Tech offense and should be able to lead this talented roster.
Group of 6: UNLV Rebels
I have made this exact pick for the Group of 6 spot for the past three seasons, lol. But I believe this year is finally the year they get it done. I believe in Jai’Den Thomas and Dan Mullen, and with former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold leading the offense, I think UNLV has a real chance to finally break through.
National Champ: The Miami Hurricanes
When it is all said and done, I have the Miami Hurricanes winning the 2026-27 national championship. Fresh off a national championship appearance where they came just a few plays short of winning their first title since 2001, I believe Mario Cristobal has put the Hurricanes in the perfect position to finish the job this season. The Canes return one of the most electrifying players in college football in sophomore Malachi Toney, who led the country with 109 receptions last season while totaling over 1,600 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns. Miami also landed one of the best quarterbacks in the transfer portal in Darian Mensah, who is coming off an incredible season at Duke where he led the ACC in passing yards and touchdowns and led the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship. Defensively, the Hurricanes have retooled with talented edge rusher Damon Wilson while returning playmakers such as Bryce Fitzgerald. Add in a favorable schedule and a team that is now experienced after making a run all the way to the national championship game, and I believe all of the pieces are in place for Miami to finally finish the job. For years, the question has been, “Is The U back?” After last season, I think we officially have our answer. The U is back, and this year, I have the Hurricanes bringing the national championship back to Miami.