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ESPN's computer predicts country's 10 most-likely playoff teams

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ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has projected the country's 10 most-likely College Football Playoff teams for the 2026 season. There will be 12 teams in the College Football Playoff once again this year. Indiana will look to repeat as national champions, after Curt Cignetti's team ...

ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has projected the country's 10 most-likely College Football Playoff teams for the 2026 season.

There will be 12 teams in the College Football Playoff once again this year. Indiana will look to repeat as national champions, after Curt Cignetti's team went on a magical, perfect run last year. Contenders like Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, etc. will look to take them down.

But which teams actually have the best chance of reaching the College Football Playoff this year?

ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, has released its picks on Sunday morning, July 19.

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Analyst Kirk Herbstreit speaks during the ESPN College GameDay live broadcast on the Texas Tech University campus on Nov. 8, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. © Mateo Rosiles/ Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ESPN's computer model, the Football Power Index, is giving the following 10 teams the best chance of reaching the College Football Playoff this year:

  1. Ohio State
  2. Notre Dame
  3. Texas
  4. Oregon
  5. Georgia
  6. Miami
  7. Texas Tech
  8. Indiana
  9. Alabama
  10. LSU

How does ESPN's Football Power Index work?

ESPN's FPI is a projection-based model.

"The Football Power Index (FPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team's performance going forward for the rest of the season. FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule. Ratings and projections update daily. FPI data from seasons prior to 2019 may not be complete," ESPN writes.

Who do you have winning it all this year?

Read full story on The Spun

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