How possible is it that the Big Ten and SEC get fewer teams in the College Football Playoff than they did in 2024 and 2025?

Two seasons ago, the two conferences combined to occupy seven of the 12 spots in the field. A year ago, they got eight, as five SEC teams made the postseason.

Could that number be down to six in 2026? There's certainly a scenario if Texas Tech and Wake Forest keep reeling off wins behind Utah and Miami.

Since it's officially College Football Playoff rankings season, here's our first official prediction at what the field will look like in early December.

No. 1 Georgia (8-1, projected SEC champion)

The Bulldogs have games remaining against Missouri and South Carolina before a home game against Georgia Tech to end the season. There's a scenario where Georgia can have a spot in the SEC title game wrapped up with a win against the Tigers in Week 11. The Bulldogs were utterly dominant in their third game against Ole Miss in 15 months and look like the favorites for the national title.

No. 2 Utah (9-0, projected Big 12 champion)

Is Utah's trip to Arizona the best game of Week 11? The Wildcats are 7-2 and their only losses have come on the road at BYU and at Texas Tech. The tiebreakers won't be in their favor, but they can shove themselves back into the mix for the Big 12 championship game with an upset win over the Utes. Utah, meanwhile, has TCU and West Virginia remaining after heading to Tucson.

No. 3 Notre Dame (8-1, at-large)

We're fascinated to see how far the committee vaults Notre Dame in the rankings on Tuesday night. After all, the Fighting Irish did exactly what the panel asked them to do. With games against Boston College, SMU and Syracuse remaining, Notre Dame is a heavy favorite to finish the season at 11-1 and sit back and watch conference championship weekend far more comfortably than it did in 2025.

If Notre Dame loses one of its final three games, however, the committee could again move them toward the bubble.

No. 4 Indiana (8-1, projected Big Ten champion)

The Hoosiers were off in Week 10 and we'll see in Week 11 what the quarterback situation is like and if the offense can get unlocked with either Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson under center. Indiana may look to overpower USC's defense with a bruising run game either way. After the Trojans visit, Indiana has Washington and Purdue before a likely appearance in the Big Ten title game.

No. 5 Miami (8-1, projected ACC champion) vs. No. 12 Boise State (8-1, projected Pac-12 champion)

The Hurricanes should still be considered the prohibitive favorite to win the ACC, but their game against Duke on Saturday suddenly gets more intriguing with the Blue Devils 7-2 and on a tear. A lot of college football fans across the country are going to get their first extended look at Duke RB Nate Sheppard. He's rushed for 1,189 yards and 17 TDs on just 191 carries.

The Broncos routed Colorado State in Week 10 with backup QB Max Cutforth going 16-of-19 for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Oregon State visits Boise in Week 11 — ESPN's "College GameDay" will be in Idaho — but the Beavers are on a two-game losing streak.

No. 6 UCLA (9-0, at-large) vs. No. 11 Wake Forest (8-1, at-large)

The Bruins just keep taking care of business. UCLA outscored Minnesota by 14 in the second half in a 34-20 win in Minneapolis as Ty Dieffenbach threw for 303 yards on just eight completions. As it stands now, Oregon and USC — who UCLA plays in Week 13 — are the only ranked teams the Bruins will face all regular season. The committee signaled strongly that it cares about strength of schedule. That's irrelevant as long as UCLA keeps winning. But what happens if the Bruins drop a game over the final three weeks of the season?

We've got the Demon Deacons in the field as we like their chances to be Miami's opponent in the ACC title game. Wake has games at SMU and Georgia Tech along with a home game against Duke remaining. If the Deacs are 11-2 with both losses coming to the Hurricanes, how can they be left out?

No. 7 Alabama (7-2, at-large) vs. No. 10 Texas Tech (8-1, at-large)

The Crimson Tide could move up to No. 4 on Tuesday night and are heavy favorites in their final three regular season games. But how far could they slip in the rankings if they finish 10-3 with another loss to Georgia in the SEC title game? It's feasible the committee may not move Alabama much at all if that happens. For now, we've got the Tide slotted here, and this is about as low as they'll be if they win out over the final three weeks.

Texas Tech simply needs to keep winning. The Red Raiders' defense was gashed Saturday night by West Virginia in their win and they now head to Stillwater to face an Oklahoma State team that put up 49 points in the first half at Kansas State.

No. 8 Texas (7-2, at-large) vs. No. 9 Tennessee (7-2, at-large)

The Longhorns ripped off 21 straight points in the second half to put Missouri away 34-20 after Arch Manning's controversial fumble that looked like an incomplete pass. Texas heads to LSU in Week 11, but then has games against Arkansas and Texas A&M to finish the season. Even if Texas loses to LSU and finishes 9-3, we have a hard time seeing how the Longhorns are out of the playoff.

Tennessee gets LSU the week after the Longhorns and draws Texas A&M in Week 11. The Volunteers were ruthless in a 28-point win over Kentucky on Saturday and that head-to-head victory could likely end up being crucial in determining the final few playoff spots.

Source: Yahoo Sports