Preseason projections for the 2026 College Football Playoff place established programs such as Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Georgia, and Texas at the front of the field to reach the quarterfinals. These teams benefit from returning production on both lines, experienced quarterbacks, and schedules that limit early-season traps while building conference momentum. Recent coaches polls and media rankings highlight Notre Dame’s favorable slate and roster continuity as key differentiators after prior near-misses, while Big Ten depth gives Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana multiple paths through the expanded format. Factors that could shift implied probabilities include quarterback health, transfer-portal impact on depth, and how quickly new defensive schemes gel ahead of conference title implications. Early non-conference results and September injury reports will quickly influence trader sentiment.