Notre Dame and Georgia take the top seeds in the initial College Football Playoff bracket projection for the 2026 season, which includes a 12-team field, first-round matchups, quarterfinal picks, semifinal results and a national champion. With the season weeks away, several coaches are under mounting pressure, including Bill Belichick and Mike Norvell, with Florida State facing a $46 million buyout and Wisconsin bringing in a new athletic director. Tennessee is viewed as a sleeper with big upside and huge downside because of a significant unknown at quarterback; true freshman Faizon Brandon is tracking as the starter. Separately, a state-by-state ranking has picked the best Division I team in every state, from Alabama to Wyoming.