Twenty-seven unique programs have competed in the College Football Playoff (CFP) since its first season back in 2014.
These 27 programs make up what I call the College Football Playoff Club. More teams will (likely) be added to this exclusive club in 2026. But how many more? And crucially, which teams? We’ll tackle those questions today.
First up, roll call. Here’s every member of the College Football Playoff Club and their tally of CFP appearances entering the 2026 season:
The College Football Playoff ClubAppearancesAlabama9Clemson, Ohio State7Oklahoma, Georgia5Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon3Texas, Washington, Indiana2Arizona State, Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida State, James Madison, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, SMU, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulane1As of mid-August, USC has the best odds (+240) to reach the CFP among teams still looking for their first appearance. I’m lower on that bet than some others — I’ll explain why further down the page as we work our way from conference to conference searching for the best cases to join the Club.
Before we dive into that, here are the latest odds for notable CFB Club hopefuls, via DraftKings.
USC: +240 BYU: +330 Utah: +350 Florida: +400 Louisville: +550 Mizzou: +700 Navy: +750 Kansas State: +750 Houston: +850 UNLV: +1000 South Carolina: +1100 Oklahoma State: +2000RELATED: Compare these odds with some of the best sports betting apps on the market.
The SEC
This is an SEC site, so let’s start with the best league in college sports.
The College Football Playoff Club features 8 SEC members, more than any other conference. That also means there’s a lesser chance a new face will join the Club. Just a take a look at the SEC’s preseason media poll and compare it with the chart above — the 8 “best” teams in the conference are already on board.
NEW: 2026 College Football SEC Preseason Media PollDo you agree? t.co/myqeeUhKBt pic.twitter.com/df2vYYu0P1
— On3 (@On3) July 24, 2026It would be unwise and unfair to count anybody out in our age of NIL and the transfer portal — freaking Indiana won the national title last season — but 3 SEC outsiders seem extra promising as we near Week 1.
First up is Florida. New OC Buster Faulkner comes over from Georgia Tech alongside QB Aaron Philo, who will have a familiar system and elite options at receiver to help ease his transition. Every SEC schedule is tough, but Florida’s is… manageable, with its toughest games against Ole Miss, Georgia and Oklahoma at home.
I see the vision, but I’ll still pass for now. Florida has been too inconsistent recently, and cracking the Playoff in Year 1 is a major ask for Jon Sumrall. Patience, Gators.
Mizzou is also a team to watch. The Tigers should have an elite run game assuming Ahmad Hardy is ready to go. There are a lot of questions to address on defense. Not to mention, is Austin Simmons ready for the bright lights after struggling to protect the ball early last season? Georgia and Texas are on the schedule, as are Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.
A 9-3 record feels like a plausible outcome for the Tigers. Could that be enough? History says no, so I will, too.
South Carolina is another team that can absolutely make a surprise run at the Playoff. Kendal Briles is a good offensive coordinator and should get much more out of QB LaNorris Sellers than Mike Shula was able to in 2025. Dylan Stewart, assuming he won’t be nagged by injury issues, is as dangerous as any defender in the SEC off the edge. The Gamecocks are older and I’ll never worry about their special teams so long as Shane Beamer is the head coach. On paper, there’s a lot to like.
All that said, there’s just too much uncertainty along the offensive line and in the secondary for me to pull the trigger here. Prove me wrong, Gamecocks.
Pick to join CFP Club: None
The Big Ten
We’re really doing this again with USC, huh?
I like Jayden Maiava. I really don’t like that he just lost his veteran center for the season with a leg injury. Offensive line was set to be a position of strength for the Trojans, but losing Kilian O’Connor a month before Week 1 is sure to have some lingering effects. Can USC pull it together before the schedule heats up around Week 5?
Speaking of schedules…
The Trojans have to play at Indiana, at Penn State, vs. Ohio State and vs. Oregon this season. Anyone who thinks this slate is favorable for a run at the Playoff is living in a different reality. The Trojans have to play 3 of the 5 best teams in the country, and their 4th toughest matchup is a cross-country trek to Beaver Stadium — one of the elite venues in college football — to take on a fantastic coach in Matt Campbell. Washington will also be tough, as will Rivalry Week at UCLA.
I just can’t find it in myself to yada yada USC’s way to 10 wins here, y’all.
There are several more uninspiring Big Ten bids to join the Club this preseason. Sorry for not having much optimism, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois.
Pick to join CFP Club: None
The ACC & Big 12
As mentioned earlier, most ACC and Big 12 programs have yet to reach the CFP.
Several existing members of the CFP Club — such as TCU, Cincinnati and Florida State — are unlikely to be competitive at the top of their respective leagues. Clemson might be sidetracked by Dabo Swinney’s bizarre insistence on pretending it’s still 2018. SMU, Miami and Texas Tech are immediate threats to win their respective conferences, sure, but they’re 3 teams against the field… I like those odds.
My favorite pick in the ACC, and my first pick to join the College Football Playoff Club this season is none other than Louisville.
The Cardinals’ schedule offers a sneaky great early opportunity against Ole Miss in Nashville. Even if the Cardinals lose that one, 11-1 is absolutely on the table. The Cards avoid playing Miami and get SMU and Pitt at home. I believe in Jeff Brohm, too — he consistently has his teams prepared for big games.
Here are some other ACC teams that I won’t endorse but are definitely worth keeping an eye on: Virginia, Virginia Tech and NC State.
Now, onto the Big 12. Let’s go rapid-fire.
Houston boasts an elite QB-to-WR duo in Conner Weigman and Amare Thomas. Former Tulane RB Makhi Hughes is in the backfield, and the Cougars’ defense returns a few promising players, too.
Oklahoma State has Drew Mestemaker, who transferred over from North Texas after racking up just under 4,500 passing yards and 34 touchdowns in 2025. The kid can sling it, and OSU has plenty of résumé-builders on the schedule with games vs. Oregon, vs. Texas Tech, at Kansas State and at Houston.
It’s tough to count out Utah, too. Devon Dampier and WayShawn Parker form one of the better QB-RB duos in the conference, but I’m definitely concerned about the Utes losing HC Kyle Whittingham to Michigan.
Ultimately, I think the Big 12 will be a 1-bid conference once again in 2026. There’s too much parity, and the SEC and Big Ten are still as loaded as ever. With that said, my pick out of the Big 12 is BYU.
I’m a big believer that QB Bear Bachmeier will take a step as a passer in 2026, and he can still bulldoze defenders at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. The Cougars offensive line is set to be one of the biggest and best in the country. Because of this, LJ Martin is a candidate to break BYU’s all-time single-season rushing record and lead the Big 12 in rushing yards. The cherry on top? BYU avoids Texas Tech and gets 2 of its 3 toughest matchups at home (Notre Dame and Arizona).
Now’s the time, Mormons.
Picks to join CFP Club: Louisville (+550), BYU (+330)
G6 Bid — The Best Chance?
The Group of 6 (G6) is only guaranteed one spot in the College Football Playoff. Tulane and James Madison both cracked the field last season because of the ACC’s incompetence, but it would be pretty extraordinary if something like that happened again in 2026.
Only 3 G6 teams are members of the CFP Club: Boise State, Tulane and James Madison. Unfortunately for the other promising G6 teams, all 3 listed are set to be at or near the top of their respective leagues. Boise State and QB Maddux Madsen, the frontrunners to win the reformed Pac-12, are especially worth keeping an eye on.
There are so many programs vying for the G6 crown this season. South Florida, Army, Navy, New Mexico, San Diego State and Fresno State are all contenders, but my favorite pick is UNLV.
The Runnin’ Rebels have a great QB battle going on right now. Former Auburn QB Jackson Arnold is competing with former Michigan QB Alex Orji, who did this a few days ago at camp:
What a pass & what a catch @AlexORJ1 | @kaydenmcgee2 pic.twitter.com/w3gdoD24eG
— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) August 9, 2026Yes, he got his foot down.
That’s not why I’m picking UNLV, though. I’m picking UNLV because of head coach Dan Mullen, who finished 10-4 last season despite a flawed defense that should be improved under DC Paul Guenther. The schedule also features nonconference home matchups against Memphis and Cal, both of which I think the Rebels can win.
The game to circle for UNLV is Nov. 14 at New Mexico, another top contender in the Mountain West and probably my second-favorite pick to win the G6 bid among first timers. The Lobos have experience all over the field — especially in the trenches — and play a favorable schedule. Still, I think the Rebels will earn the win (and improve their odds at a CFP Club nod) in Albuquerque.
Pick to join CFP Club: UNLV (+1000)
College Football Playoff Club: Which teams will make their CFP debuts in 2026? Saturday Down South.
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