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Big Ten, Georgia, Ole Miss, JMU, Tulane Claim 2026 CFP

7/8/2026

28 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Big Ten Champion Crowned

The 12-team 2026 College Football Playoff crowned a third Big Ten champion.
Georgia secured the SEC championship in 2026.
Ole Miss launched an unexpected playoff run after its head coach left before the tournament.
Texas Tech’s transfer-portal investments yielded a strong postseason as North Texas’s high-octane offense challenged powerhouses.
Duke won the ACC title but missed the CFP, while James Madison and Tulane earned CFP spots.

Summary

Connelly Predicts

Analyst Bill Connelly ranks the SEC as the strongest conference despite a three-year championship drought.
Connelly notes Ohio State leads SP+ efficiency and projects Oregon as the most likely Big Ten champion.
Connelly emphasizes Texas’ star transfers as pivotal, contingent on health and performance.
Connelly highlights coach Lane Kiffin’s chance to “catch lightning in a bottle” at LSU and coach Pete Golding’s “small-sample magic” at Ole Miss.

Summary

Pac-12 Expands

The Pac-12 adds Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, Colorado State and Texas State, reshaping its regional identity.
A flex-week experiment will let teams move a game to a later date to boost balance and TV exposure.
James Franklin begins his first season as Virginia Tech head coach, marking a high-profile ACC change.
The Miami-Notre Dame rivalry moves to November, extending the ACC’s marquee non-conference matchup.

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Big Ten Champion Crowned

The 12-team 2026 College Football Playoff crowned a third Big Ten champion.
Georgia secured the SEC championship in 2026.
Ole Miss launched an unexpected playoff run after its head coach left before the tournament.
Texas Tech’s transfer-portal investments yielded a strong postseason as North Texas’s high-octane offense challenged powerhouses.
Duke won the ACC title but missed the CFP, while James Madison and Tulane earned CFP spots.

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