College Football Playoff: 31 teams that can make the CFP

The landscape of the 2026 college football season is taking shape as analysts evaluate potential contenders for the College Football Playoff. According to reporting from ESPN, there are currently 31 teams identified as having a viable path to make the CFP. This broad field of candidates highlights the competitive nature of the current postseason structure. The conversation around the playoff is occurring alongside the release of various preseason rankings and predictions as teams prepare for the upcoming schedule. Specific outlets are focusing on different aspects of the preseason outlook.

PFF has noted that two of Notre Dame's opponents could potentially make their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report is providing predictions for the Top 25 Coaches Poll for the 2026 preseason rankings. The Big Lead is highlighting four college football programs that they describe as underrated and currently being disrespected in the initial preseason rankings, suggesting a discrepancy between perceived value and official standings. Contextual analysis of the conference landscapes is also emerging in the coverage. For example, knoxnews.com has published a second annual preseason Top 25 list specifically for the Big Ten and SEC conferences.

In this particular ranking, Tennessee is placed at No. 10, with the outlet providing specific justifications for that placement. These targeted rankings for the Big Ten and SEC demonstrate the high stakes and intensity surrounding the two most prominent conferences as they vie for playoff positioning. Moving forward, observers will track how the identified 31 teams perform against their scheduled opponents to see who maintains their CFP eligibility. The focus will remain on the 2026 preseason rankings, including the official Coaches Poll and the trajectories of the underrated programs mentioned by The Big Lead. Additionally, the performance of the Notre Dame opponents mentioned by PFF will be a key indicator of whether they can achieve a historic first-time appearance in the postseason tournament.