Preseason AP Poll Sets Hypothetical College Football Playoff Bracket

The College Football Playoff bracket, based on The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll, projects Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Notre Dame as the top four seeds. This hypothetical field also outlines potential first-round matchups, with higher-seeded teams hosting lower-seeded teams on campus or at designated sites.

The CFP format ensures the five highest-ranked conference champions from the Power Four and one from the Group of Six automatically qualify. The remaining seven spots are reserved for the next highest-ranked teams, with independents like Notre Dame eligible if they rank among the top 12 in the final CFP rankings.

Based on the AP preseason poll, the projected first-round matchups include No. 9 seed Mississippi at No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 12 seed Boise State at No. 5 Texas, No. 10 seed Oklahoma at No. 7 seed Miami, and No. 11 seed Texas Tech at No. 6 Indiana. The winners of these games would advance to face the top four seeds.

The preseason AP poll places five teams from the Southeastern Conference, three from the Big Ten, one each from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, Pac-12, and one independent in the projected bracket. LSU, Alabama, and BYU are identified as the first three teams outside the projected playoff field.

Boise State, though not in the AP Top 25, is noted as the highest-ranked Group of Six team that would receive an automatic bid. Texas Tech is the highest-ranked Big 12 team in this projection. The AP will continue to publish poll-based brackets weekly until the official CFP selection committee releases its initial rankings on November 3.

First-round games are scheduled for December 18 and 19. Quarterfinal games will take place on December 30 and January 1. The semifinals are slated for January 14 and 15, with the championship game set for January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This season also marks a change in bowl assignments, with the CFP Management Committee approving a new format where the top three seeds will select their bowl path in the playoff, removing historic tie-ins.