Five ranked college football teams fell to unranked opponents during a chaotic Week 9 slate that shook up the postseason race, ESPN reported. The upset wave included three ranked Big Ten teams dropping games, led by Lincoln Riley earning his first AP top-five win as USC’s coach with a victory over No. 2 Ohio State.
Unranked Syracuse and Oregon secured major home conference wins, while the state of Iowa celebrated victories by both Iowa State and Iowa over No. 24 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Wisconsin, respectively. Meanwhile, the reigning national champions survived another tight contest with an overtime victory in which Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker recorded 149 receiving yards on eight receptions against Minnesota, according to ESPN.
Twelve-team playoff format awards automatic bids
The 12-team College Football Playoff format awards automatic bids to the four Power 4 conference champions alongside the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, regardless of whether that team claims a league title. Notre Dame secures a guaranteed spot in the field if the program finishes among the top 12 teams. The remaining slots go to the next seven highest-ranked programs.
Selection Day falls on Dec. 6, at which point time slots for quarterfinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Rose Bowl Game, and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be determined. The four highest-ranked teams receive first-round byes, while seeds 5 through 8 host first-round games at their campus sites.
First-round games take place on campus sites
First-round games take place on Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19, at campus sites. ESPN bowl analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach project different paths for the opening round:
- Bonagura projects: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 BYU; No. 11 Ohio State at No. 6 Notre Dame; No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 Indiana; No. 9 Wake Forest at No. 8 Kentucky.
- Schlabach projects: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Kentucky; No. 11 Indiana at No. 6 Notre Dame; No. 10 Wake Forest at No. 7 BYU; No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Texas.
Quarterfinal matchups begin on Wednesday, Dec. 30, with the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where Bonagura slates No. 8 Kentucky against No. 1 Miami, while Schlabach matches No. 5 Kentucky against No. 4 Utah. Additional quarterfinal projections pit teams like Indiana, Utah, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, and UCLA against one another ahead of the semifinals.
Semifinals, National Championship, and Bowl Schedule Details
The CFP semifinals land on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and Friday, Jan. 15, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The CFP National Championship is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The broader bowl season kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 12, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, featuring projected matchups between South Carolina State and Jackson State or Alabama A&M according to the analysts. Bowl matchups continue through early January, concluding with games like the Citrus Bowl and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 College Football Playoff
When does the 12-team College Football Playoff field get finalized?
Selection Day is set for Dec. 6, when the official postseason matchups and time slots for major quarterfinals will be locked in.
Who receives first-round byes in the 12-team format?
The four highest-ranked teams in the final selection committee rankings receive first-round byes, regardless of conference championships.
Where is the 2026-27 CFP National Championship game taking place?
The championship game is scheduled for Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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