Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Texas headline preseason projections for the 2026 College Football Playoff semifinals, bolstered by elite recruiting classes, returning production at quarterback and skill positions, and favorable schedules in the Big Ten and SEC. Notre Dame enters with strong momentum after a controversial 2025 exclusion, while defending champion Indiana and programs like Miami and LSU round out the next tier based on recent form and roster continuity. The 12-team format guarantees Power Four conference champions automatic bids, intensifying regular-season implications for at-large berths and seeding. Early August coaches’ polls and futures markets reflect broad consensus around these contenders, with outcomes likely hinging on conference title races, head-to-head results, and health entering conference championship weekend.