The CFP race
the most likely field, the bubble, and the games that move it
Preseason
WEEK 3 · 2026
Week 3 is still ahead — here's the national picture entering week 3.
The bracket as of today
12 most likely teams, seeded by the sims · 1–4 get byes→
4
Georgia0–073%
Georgia0–073%Quarterfinal · vs winner of 5/12
→
3
Ohio State0–080%
Ohio State0–080%Quarterfinal · vs winner of 6/11
→
2
Notre Dame0–099%
Notre Dame0–099%Quarterfinal · vs winner of 7/10
Bubble watch
15–85% playoff odds, with the last week's movementGames of the week
ranked by playoff probability in play across the country…
…
Louisville 52%
Rooting for
SMU
SMUCurrent playoff chance: 23.1%If SMU wins: 33.8%If Louisville wins: 13.5%Penn StateCurrent playoff chance: 45.6%If SMU wins: 46%If Louisville wins: 45.3%TexasCurrent playoff chance: 42.4%If SMU wins: 42.7%If Louisville wins: 42.2%
Rooting for
Louisville
LouisvilleCurrent playoff chance: 11.1%If Louisville wins: 16.5%If SMU wins: 5%MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If Louisville wins: 56.6%If SMU wins: 53.7%OregonCurrent playoff chance: 70.4%If Louisville wins: 70.7%If SMU wins: 70.1%
…
… · ESPN
Miami 77%
Rooting for
Miami
MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If Miami wins: 60.9%If Wake Forest wins: 36%BYUCurrent playoff chance: 8.1%If Miami wins: 8.2%If Wake Forest wins: 7.8%IowaCurrent playoff chance: 40.8%If Miami wins: 40.9%If Wake Forest wins: 40.5%
Rooting for
Wake Forest
SMUCurrent playoff chance: 23.1%If Wake Forest wins: 27.3%If Miami wins: 21.9%LouisvilleCurrent playoff chance: 11.1%If Wake Forest wins: 13.4%If Miami wins: 10.4%ClemsonCurrent playoff chance: 8.7%If Wake Forest wins: 10.4%If Miami wins: 8.2%
…
… · FOX
Texas Tech 91%
Rooting for
Houston
UtahCurrent playoff chance: 43.5%If Houston wins: 47.5%If Texas Tech wins: 43.1%BYUCurrent playoff chance: 8.1%If Houston wins: 10%If Texas Tech wins: 8%Kansas StateCurrent playoff chance: 4.1%If Houston wins: 5.9%If Texas Tech wins: 4%
Rooting for
Texas Tech
Texas TechCurrent playoff chance: 66.6%If Texas Tech wins: 68.6%If Houston wins: 45%Texas A&MCurrent playoff chance: 31.6%If Texas Tech wins: 31.7%If Houston wins: 29.8%OregonCurrent playoff chance: 70.4%If Texas Tech wins: 70.5%If Houston wins: 69.5%
…
… · ABC
Rooting for
LSU
LSUCurrent playoff chance: 5.9%If LSU wins: 10.5%If Ole Miss wins: 5%AlabamaCurrent playoff chance: 29.2%If LSU wins: 31.1%If Ole Miss wins: 28.9%TennesseeCurrent playoff chance: 17.2%If LSU wins: 18.8%If Ole Miss wins: 16.9%
Rooting for
Ole Miss
Ole MissCurrent playoff chance: 61.4%If Ole Miss wins: 64.3%If LSU wins: 46.5%James MadisonCurrent playoff chance: 35.9%If Ole Miss wins: 36.1%If LSU wins: 35.2%GeorgiaCurrent playoff chance: 73%If Ole Miss wins: 73.1%If LSU wins: 72.3%
…
… · The CW Network
James Madison 66%
Rooting for
James Madison
James MadisonCurrent playoff chance: 35.9%If James Madison wins: 41%If San Diego State wins: 26%Old DominionCurrent playoff chance: 5.4%If James Madison wins: 5.5%If San Diego State wins: 5.2%MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If James Madison wins: 55.3%If San Diego State wins: 55%
Rooting for
San Diego State
San Diego StateCurrent playoff chance: 2.1%If San Diego State wins: 3.5%If James Madison wins: 1.3%North TexasCurrent playoff chance: 9.3%If San Diego State wins: 10.4%If James Madison wins: 8.7%South FloridaCurrent playoff chance: 16.3%If San Diego State wins: 17.3%If James Madison wins: 15.8%
…
… · ABC
Rooting for
Georgia
GeorgiaCurrent playoff chance: 73%If Georgia wins: 76.3%If Arkansas wins: 61.3%Ole MissCurrent playoff chance: 61.4%If Georgia wins: 61.7%If Arkansas wins: 60.6%James MadisonCurrent playoff chance: 35.9%If Georgia wins: 36.1%If Arkansas wins: 35.3%
Rooting for
Arkansas
TexasCurrent playoff chance: 42.4%If Arkansas wins: 44.1%If Georgia wins: 42%ArkansasCurrent playoff chance: 1.4%If Arkansas wins: 2.8%If Georgia wins: 1%TennesseeCurrent playoff chance: 17.2%If Arkansas wins: 18.4%If Georgia wins: 16.8%
…
… · USA Network
Texas State 53%
Rooting for
North Texas
North TexasCurrent playoff chance: 9.3%If North Texas wins: 12.8%If Texas State wins: 6.3%Texas A&MCurrent playoff chance: 31.6%If North Texas wins: 32.1%If Texas State wins: 31%UTSACurrent playoff chance: 7.5%If North Texas wins: 7.7%If Texas State wins: 7.3%
Rooting for
Texas State
Texas StateCurrent playoff chance: 4.4%If Texas State wins: 6.1%If North Texas wins: 2.4%Boise StateCurrent playoff chance: 3.8%If Texas State wins: 4.1%If North Texas wins: 3.4%MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If Texas State wins: 55.5%If North Texas wins: 54.9%
…
… · CBS
Rooting for
USC
USCCurrent playoff chance: 23.7%If USC wins: 27.2%If Rutgers wins: 14.6%OregonCurrent playoff chance: 70.4%If USC wins: 70.7%If Rutgers wins: 69.8%WashingtonCurrent playoff chance: 22.5%If USC wins: 22.7%If Rutgers wins: 22.1%
Rooting for
Rutgers
Texas A&MCurrent playoff chance: 31.6%If Rutgers wins: 32.8%If USC wins: 31.1%MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If Rutgers wins: 56.3%If USC wins: 54.8%AlabamaCurrent playoff chance: 29.2%If Rutgers wins: 30.2%If USC wins: 28.9%
…
… · SECN+
Rooting for
UTSA
UTSACurrent playoff chance: 7.5%If UTSA wins: 12%If Texas wins: 6.9%WashingtonCurrent playoff chance: 22.5%If UTSA wins: 23.9%If Texas wins: 22.4%AlabamaCurrent playoff chance: 29.2%If UTSA wins: 30.6%If Texas wins: 29.1%
Rooting for
Texas
TexasCurrent playoff chance: 42.4%If Texas wins: 44%If UTSA wins: 30.3%TennesseeCurrent playoff chance: 17.2%If Texas wins: 17.3%If UTSA wins: 16%UNLVCurrent playoff chance: 3%If Texas wins: 3.1%If UTSA wins: 2.3%
…
… · ESPN+
Old Dominion 65%
Rooting for
East Carolina
East CarolinaCurrent playoff chance: 3.1%If East Carolina wins: 5%If Old Dominion wins: 2%South FloridaCurrent playoff chance: 16.3%If East Carolina wins: 17.1%If Old Dominion wins: 15.8%MiamiCurrent playoff chance: 55.2%If East Carolina wins: 55.6%If Old Dominion wins: 55%
Rooting for
Old Dominion
Old DominionCurrent playoff chance: 5.4%If Old Dominion wins: 6.7%If East Carolina wins: 3.2%James MadisonCurrent playoff chance: 35.9%If Old Dominion wins: 36.8%If East Carolina wins: 34.5%AlabamaCurrent playoff chance: 29.2%If Old Dominion wins: 29.5%If East Carolina wins: 28.7%
Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 3, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.






























