CFB Charts playoff field, 2026
College Football Playoff Projection Week 9, 2026: The CFB Charts Field Rebuilt Nov. 2, 2026 from the ratings saved that week, with records from games before Week 9.
Ohio State, LSU, Georgia and Miami get the first-round byes. The projected Power 4 champions are Ohio State (Big Ten), Miami (ACC), Utah (Big 12) and Kentucky (SEC), and Boise State takes the spot for the highest-ranked team outside the Power 4.
The last four in: BYU, Texas, Alabama and Indiana. First four out: UCLA, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Ole Miss.
Week 9 Week 10 → Every week, 2026 The Top 25 for Week 9 Build your own field The bracket for Week 9
Quarterfinals No. 1 seed's bye ends
1 Ohio State 6–1
Winner of 8/9
No. 4 seed's bye ends
4 Miami 7–0
Winner of 5/12
No. 2 seed's bye ends
2 LSU 6–2
Winner of 7/10
No. 3 seed's bye ends
3 Georgia 6–1
Winner of 6/11
Semifinals and title game Quarterfinal winners: 1 or 8/9 against 4 or 5/12, and 2 or 7/10 against 3 or 6/11
The national championship game
Seeds go strictly by the CFB Charts ranking. The top four seeds get byes; the first round is at the higher seed.
The 12 teams
No. 1 seed
Projected Big Ten champion (4–0 in conference), first-round bye
1
Beat Indiana 19–15 last time out. Scores 39.3 a game (10th) and allows 13.4 (4th). Julian Sayin has 2,007 passing yards, 19 TD and 3 INT.
Last game W 19–15 at Indiana
Points 19 39 avg Points allowed 15 13 avg Passing yards 235 316 avg Rushing yards 117 168 avg Last game against the season average: 19 points (average 39.3), 15 points allowed (average 13.4), 235 passing yards (average 316), 117 rushing yards (average 168). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 56–3 vs. Ball State +53 1 Week 2: L 23–24 at Texas −1 2 Week 3: W 59–3 vs. Kent State +56 3 Week 4: W 42–19 vs. Illinois +23 4 Week 5: W 31–14 at Iowa +17 5 Week 6: W 45–16 vs. Maryland +29 6 Week 7: W 19–15 at Indiana +4 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 59–3 vs. Kent State. Worst result: 23–24 at Texas. Points per game 39.3 10th
Points allowed 13.4 4th
Yards per play 7.54 9th
Yards per play allowed 4.39 3rd
SP+ 1st
Strength of record 8th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Ball State L Texas W Kent State W Illinois W Iowa W Maryland W Indiana
This week: at USC , Sat., Oct. 31, 7:30 PM ET, NBC. The numbers pick Ohio State, 76% to win. Result: L 18–30 at USC .
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No. 2 seed
At-large, first-round bye
2
Beat Auburn 38–17 last time out. Scores 40.1 a game (7th) and allows 16.0 (17th). 15th in the AP. Sam Leavitt has 2,177 passing yards, 17 TD and 8 INT.
Last game W 38–17 at Auburn
Points 38 40 avg Points allowed 17 16 avg Passing yards 387 319 avg Rushing yards 131 199 avg Last game against the season average: 38 points (average 40.1), 17 points allowed (average 16.0), 387 passing yards (average 319), 131 rushing yards (average 199). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 51–10 vs. Clemson +41 1 Week 2: W 45–14 vs. Louisiana Tech +31 2 Week 3: L 24–32 at Ole Miss −8 3 Week 4: W 35–6 vs. Texas A&M +29 4 Week 5: W 63–14 vs. McNeese +49 5 Week 6: L 34–35 at Kentucky −1 6 Week 7: W 31–0 vs. Mississippi State +31 7 Week 8: W 38–17 at Auburn +21 8 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 63–14 vs. McNeese. Worst result: 24–32 at Ole Miss. Points per game 40.1 7th
Points allowed 16.0 17th
Yards per play 6.55 39th
Yards per play allowed 4.84 11th
SP+ 3rd
Strength of record 13th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Clemson W Louisiana Tech L Ole Miss W Texas A&M W McNeese L Kentucky W Mississippi State W Auburn
This week: off.
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No. 3 seed
At-large, first-round bye
3
Lost 27–24 to Auburn last time out. Scores 43.0 a game (3rd) and allows 15.9 (16th). Gunner Stockton has 1,574 passing yards, 14 TD and 4 INT.
Last game L 24–27 vs. Auburn
Points 24 43 avg Points allowed 27 16 avg Passing yards 327 270 avg Rushing yards 127 205 avg Last game against the season average: 24 points (average 43.0), 27 points allowed (average 15.9), 327 passing yards (average 270), 127 rushing yards (average 205). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 63–3 vs. Tennessee State +60 1 Week 2: W 70–20 vs. Western Kentucky +50 2 Week 3: W 45–17 at Arkansas +28 3 Week 4: W 41–13 vs. Oklahoma +28 4 Week 5: W 38–14 vs. Vanderbilt +24 5 Week 6: W 20–17 at Alabama +3 6 Week 7: L 24–27 vs. Auburn −3 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 63–3 vs. Tennessee State. Worst result: 24–27 vs. Auburn. Points per game 43.0 3rd
Points allowed 15.9 16th
Yards per play 7.98 1st
Yards per play allowed 4.96 16th
SP+ 2nd
Strength of record 17th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Tennessee State W Western Kentucky W Arkansas W Oklahoma W Vanderbilt W Alabama L Auburn
This week: vs. Florida , Sat., Oct. 31, 3:30 PM ET, Disney+, ABC. The numbers pick Georgia, 89% to win. Result: W 27–8 vs. Florida .
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No. 4 seed
Projected ACC champion (5–0 in conference), first-round bye
4
Beat Pittsburgh 52–23 last time out. Scores 49.0 a game (1st) and allows 15.3 (11th). Darian Mensah has 2,155 passing yards, 20 TD and 1 INT.
Last game W 52–23 vs. Pittsburgh
Points 52 49 avg Points allowed 23 15 avg Passing yards 387 341 avg Rushing yards 165 214 avg Last game against the season average: 52 points (average 49.0), 23 points allowed (average 15.3), 387 passing yards (average 341), 165 rushing yards (average 214). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 45–6 at Stanford +39 1 Week 2: W 77–7 vs. Florida A&M +70 2 Week 3: W 33–20 at Wake Forest +13 3 Week 4: W 52–3 vs. Central Michigan +49 4 Week 5: W 41–13 at Clemson +28 5 Week 7: W 43–35 vs. Florida State +8 6 Week 8: W 52–23 vs. Pittsburgh +29 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 77–7 vs. Florida A&M. Worst result: 43–35 vs. Florida State. Points per game 49.0 1st
Points allowed 15.3 11th
Yards per play 7.98 2nd
Yards per play allowed 5.42 45th
SP+ 5th
Strength of record 6th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Stanford W Florida A&M W Wake Forest W Central Michigan W Clemson W Florida State W Pittsburgh
This week: at North Carolina , Sat., Oct. 31, 7:30 PM ET, ABC, ERADM. The numbers pick Miami, 89% to win. Result: W 38–35 at North Carolina .
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No. 5 seed
Notre Dame, in the top 12, hosts No. 12
5
Lost 28–24 at BYU last time out. Scores 41.1 a game (6th) and allows 13.4 (4th). C.J. Carr has 1,651 passing yards, 15 TD and 1 INT.
Last game L 24–28 at BYU
Points 24 41 avg Points allowed 28 13 avg Passing yards 271 263 avg Rushing yards 115 188 avg Last game against the season average: 24 points (average 41.1), 28 points allowed (average 13.4), 271 passing yards (average 263), 115 rushing yards (average 188). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 41–13 vs. Wisconsin +28 1 Week 2: W 52–0 vs. Rice +52 2 Week 3: W 27–10 vs. Michigan State +17 3 Week 4: W 49–10 at Purdue +39 4 Week 5: W 37–26 at North Carolina +11 5 Week 6: W 58–7 vs. Stanford +51 6 Week 7: L 24–28 at BYU −4 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 52–0 vs. Rice. Worst result: 24–28 at BYU. Points per game 41.1 6th
Points allowed 13.4 4th
Yards per play 6.73 30th
Yards per play allowed 4.67 8th
SP+ 3rd
Strength of record 7th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Wisconsin W Rice W Michigan State W Purdue W North Carolina W Stanford L BYU
This week: vs. Navy , Sat., Oct. 31, 12:00 PM ET, ABC. The numbers pick Notre Dame, 97% to win. Result: W 35–13 vs. Navy .
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No. 6 seed
At-large, hosts No. 11
6
Beat Michigan 13–6 last time out. Scores 33.6 a game (38th) and allows 12.0 (2nd). Josh Hoover has 1,745 passing yards, 17 TD and 1 INT.
Last game W 13–6 at Michigan
Points 13 34 avg Points allowed 6 12 avg Passing yards 81 229 avg Rushing yards 130 199 avg Last game against the season average: 13 points (average 33.6), 6 points allowed (average 12.0), 81 passing yards (average 229), 130 rushing yards (average 199). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 52–16 vs. North Texas +36 1 Week 2: W 55–0 vs. Howard +55 2 Week 3: W 38–0 vs. Western Kentucky +38 3 Week 4: W 29–23 vs. Northwestern +6 4 Week 5: W 47–15 at Rutgers +32 5 Week 6: W 20–17 at Nebraska +3 6 Week 7: L 15–19 vs. Ohio State −4 7 Week 8: W 13–6 at Michigan +7 8 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 55–0 vs. Howard. Worst result: 15–19 vs. Ohio State. Points per game 33.6 38th
Points allowed 12.0 2nd
Yards per play 6.82 23rd
Yards per play allowed 5.06 19th
SP+ 6th
Strength of record 4th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W North Texas W Howard W Western Kentucky W Northwestern W Rutgers W Nebraska L Ohio State W Michigan
This week: vs. Minnesota , Sat., Oct. 31, 3:30 PM ET, CBS. The numbers pick Indiana, 96% to win. Result: W 23–16 vs. Minnesota .
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No. 7 seed
At-large, hosts No. 10
7
Beat Texas A&M 31–20 last time out. Scores 38.2 a game (13th) and allows 21.2 (49th). Keelon Russell has 2,077 passing yards, 13 TD and 5 INT.
Last game W 31–20 vs. Texas A&M
Points 31 38 avg Points allowed 20 21 avg Passing yards 312 263 avg Rushing yards 77 173 avg Last game against the season average: 31 points (average 38.3), 20 points allowed (average 21.3), 312 passing yards (average 263), 77 rushing yards (average 173). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 48–10 vs. East Carolina +38 1 Week 2: W 45–17 at Kentucky +28 2 Week 3: W 50–36 vs. Florida State +14 3 Week 4: W 49–18 vs. South Carolina +31 4 Week 5: W 56–23 at Mississippi State +33 5 Week 6: L 17–20 vs. Georgia −3 6 Week 7: L 10–26 at Tennessee −16 7 Week 8: W 31–20 vs. Texas A&M +11 8 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 48–10 vs. East Carolina. Worst result: 10–26 at Tennessee. Points per game 38.2 13th
Points allowed 21.2 49th
Yards per play 6.60 38th
Yards per play allowed 6.11 88th
SP+ 7th
Strength of record 2nd
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W East Carolina W Kentucky W Florida State W South Carolina W Mississippi State L Georgia L Tennessee W Texas A&M
This week: off.
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No. 8 seed
At-large, hosts No. 9
8
Beat Ole Miss 34–27 last time out. Scores 30.7 a game (57th) and allows 19.1 (29th). Arch Manning has 1,542 passing yards, 11 TD and 7 INT.
Last game W 34–27 vs. Ole Miss
Points 34 31 avg Points allowed 27 19 avg Passing yards 218 223 avg Rushing yards 240 163 avg Last game against the season average: 34 points (average 30.7), 27 points allowed (average 19.1), 218 passing yards (average 223), 240 rushing yards (average 163). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 59–7 vs. Texas State +52 1 Week 2: W 24–23 vs. Ohio State +1 2 Week 3: W 30–6 vs. UTSA +24 3 Week 4: W 20–17 at Tennessee +3 4 Week 6: L 24–27 vs. Oklahoma −3 5 Week 7: L 24–27 vs. Florida −3 6 Week 8: W 34–27 vs. Ole Miss +7 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 59–7 vs. Texas State. Worst result: 24–27 vs. Oklahoma. Points per game 30.7 57th
Points allowed 19.1 29th
Yards per play 5.98 86th
Yards per play allowed 4.62 7th
SP+ 8th
Strength of record 8th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Texas State W Ohio State W UTSA W Tennessee L Oklahoma L Florida W Ole Miss
This week: vs. Mississippi State , Sat., Oct. 31, 7:30 PM ET, ESPN, Disney+. The numbers pick Texas, 88% to win. Result: W 31–3 vs. Mississippi State .
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No. 9 seed
Projected Big 12 champion (4–0 in conference), hosts No. 8
9
Beat Houston 21–13 last time out. Scores 37.4 a game (14th) and allows 14.6 (9th). Devon Dampier has 1,633 passing yards, 12 TD and 6 INT.
Last game W 21–13 vs. Houston
Points 21 37 avg Points allowed 13 15 avg Passing yards 204 260 avg Rushing yards 233 225 avg Last game against the season average: 21 points (average 37.4), 13 points allowed (average 14.6), 204 passing yards (average 260), 233 rushing yards (average 225). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 66–14 vs. Idaho +52 1 Week 2: W 43–10 vs. Arkansas +33 2 Week 3: W 33–0 vs. Utah State +33 3 Week 4: W 31–17 at Iowa State +14 4 Week 6: W 41–24 vs. Kansas +17 5 Week 7: W 27–24 at Colorado +3 6 Week 8: W 21–13 vs. Houston +8 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 66–14 vs. Idaho. Worst result: 27–24 at Colorado. Points per game 37.4 14th
Points allowed 14.6 9th
Yards per play 7.57 8th
Yards per play allowed 4.93 13th
SP+ 10th
Strength of record 4th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Idaho W Arkansas W Utah State W Iowa State W Kansas W Colorado W Houston
This week: at Cincinnati , Sat., Oct. 31, 3:45 PM ET, ESPN. The numbers pick Utah, 81% to win. Result: W 49–25 at Cincinnati .
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No. 10 seed
At-large, hosts No. 7
10
Lost 39–31 at UCF last time out. Scores 33.1 a game (40th) and allows 18.6 (26th). Bear Bachmeier has 1,514 passing yards, 11 TD and 3 INT.
Last game L 31–39 at UCF
Points 31 33 avg Points allowed 39 19 avg Passing yards 257 221 avg Rushing yards 123 198 avg Last game against the season average: 31 points (average 33.1), 39 points allowed (average 18.6), 257 passing yards (average 221), 123 rushing yards (average 198). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 63–7 vs. Utah Tech +56 1 Week 2: W 28–17 vs. Arizona +11 2 Week 3: W 41–23 at Colorado State +18 3 Week 5: W 17–10 at TCU +7 4 Week 6: W 24–10 vs. Iowa State +14 5 Week 7: W 28–24 vs. Notre Dame +4 6 Week 8: L 31–39 at UCF −8 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 63–7 vs. Utah Tech. Worst result: 31–39 at UCF. Points per game 33.1 40th
Points allowed 18.6 26th
Yards per play 6.28 60th
Yards per play allowed 5.43 47th
SP+ 13th
Strength of record 8th
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Utah Tech W Arizona W Colorado State W TCU W Iowa State W Notre Dame L UCF
This week: vs. Arizona State , Sat., Oct. 31, 3:30 PM ET, Fox. The numbers pick BYU, 89% to win. Result: W 27–20 vs. Arizona State .
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No. 11 seed
Projected SEC champion (5–1 in conference), hosts No. 6
15
Beat Vanderbilt 34–17 last time out. Scores 32.9 a game (42nd) and allows 24.8 (75th). 9th in the AP. Kenny Minchey has 1,759 passing yards, 13 TD and 1 INT.
Last game W 34–17 vs. Vanderbilt
Points 34 33 avg Points allowed 17 25 avg Passing yards 203 220 avg Rushing yards 163 171 avg Last game against the season average: 34 points (average 32.9), 17 points allowed (average 24.8), 203 passing yards (average 220), 163 rushing yards (average 171). Season leaders The season Week 1: W 45–13 vs. Youngstown State +32 1 Week 2: L 17–45 vs. Alabama −28 2 Week 3: W 31–21 at Texas A&M +10 3 Week 4: W 45–21 vs. South Alabama +24 4 Week 5: W 35–34 at South Carolina +1 5 Week 6: W 35–34 vs. LSU +1 6 Week 7: W 21–13 at Oklahoma +8 7 Week 8: W 34–17 vs. Vanderbilt +17 8 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 45–13 vs. Youngstown State. Worst result: 17–45 vs. Alabama. Points per game 32.9 42nd
Points allowed 24.8 75th
Yards per play 5.78 96th
Yards per play allowed 6.01 84th
SP+ 31st
Strength of record 1st
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
W Youngstown State L Alabama W Texas A&M W South Alabama W South Carolina W LSU W Oklahoma W Vanderbilt
This week: off.
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No. 12 seed
Highest-ranked team outside the Power 4 (Pac-12), hosts No. 5
23
Beat Washington State 31–10 last time out. Scores 34.4 a game (36th) and allows 20.6 (38th). Maddux Madsen has 1,455 passing yards, 14 TD and 0 INT.
Last game W 31–10 at Washington State
Points 31 34 avg Points allowed 10 21 avg Passing yards 151 208 avg Rushing yards 261 240 avg Last game against the season average: 31 points (average 34.4), 10 points allowed (average 20.6), 151 passing yards (average 208), 261 rushing yards (average 240). Season leaders The season Week 1: L 27–34 at Oregon −7 1 Week 2: W 38–20 vs. Memphis +18 2 Week 3: W 38–24 vs. South Dakota +14 3 Week 4: W 32–7 at Western Michigan +25 4 Week 5: W 37–18 vs. Utah State +19 5 Week 6: W 38–31 at Fresno State +7 6 Week 8: W 31–10 at Washington State +21 7 Scoring margin, game by game, numbered in the order of the results below. Biggest win: 32–7 at Western Michigan. Worst result: 27–34 at Oregon. Points per game 34.4 36th
Points allowed 20.6 38th
Yards per play 6.05 79th
Yards per play allowed 7.37 135th
SP+ 29th
Strength of record 21st
National rank out of 138 FBS teams. A longer bar is better.
L Oregon W Memphis W South Dakota W Western Michigan W Utah State W Fresno State W Washington State
This week: vs. Texas State , Sat., Oct. 31, 10:00 PM ET, ESPN Unlmtd, The CW Network, CW. The numbers pick Boise State, 77% to win. Result: W 46–45 vs. Texas State .
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The bubble: last four in, first eight out Bids by conference for Week 9 How the CFB Charts field is built It follows the 2026–27 playoff rules on top of the CFB Charts Top 25 (SP+, PRIME and strength of record, averaged). The four Power 4 champions get in, projected as the team with the best conference record (ties go to fewer conference losses, then the ranking), along with the highest-ranked team outside the Power 4. Notre Dame gets in if it's in the top 12. The rest are at-large teams in ranking order, and seeds go by the ranking..
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