Now that the season is underway, USA Today named the 11 games on the schedule that will shape the College Football Playoff race in 2026. Week 0 was a nice appetizer, but now it’s time for a full slate.
All of these games feature Power 4 matchups either out of conference or in-conference as the season gets underway for the rest of the country. The later we get into the season, the higher the stakes become. Buckle up, folks.
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Without further ado, let’s dive into the games that will eventually shape this year’s College Football Playoff. We begin with one this weekend featuring two different types of Tigers ready for an epic clash.
No. 23 Clemson at No. 13 LSU, September 5
Week 1 kicks off the season for both of these teams in Baton Rouge. If Clemson comes into this one and wins, it might be time to think about those Tigers in the College Football Playoff as they enter an important year.
LSU might need this win more than Clemson considering the Tigers’ SEC schedule. An at-large bid will be harder to come by, so Lane Kiffin would do well to lead his team to a win over a non-conference Power 4 opponent.
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas, September 12th
As USA Today put it, Ohio State vs. Texas could be the game of the year and it has major College Football Playoff implications. Like last year, it could be a massive win or a solid loss on either team’s resume.
Texas did not make last year’s CFP though, but having a top-four matchup in Week 2 would work out for the winner. The Longhorns might need it more though as Ohio State could easily recover as they don’t play the likes of Indiana and Oregon until mid-October and mid-November. But man, if the Buckeyes win this one, it would skyrocket their value.
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 16 Michigan, September 12th
Oklahoma had a nice win on their College Football Playoff resume last year for beating Michigan at home and they could do so again in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines will look drastically different, though, as they enter a new era.
Kyle Whittingham took over as head coach, brought OC Jason Beck from Utah with him and QB Bryce Underwood could take a big step forward. Realistically, this could be a hard-hitting game featuring a lot of running and it’s anyone’s game at this point.
Talk about a Big 12 matchup that could shake up the College Football Playoff picture. With how stacked the Big Ten and SEC are this year, the Big 12 could be a one-bid league when it’s all said and done.
All eyes are on Texas Tech to be that team, but Willie Fritz and Houston are legit. A win here for the Cougars could give them the inside track to the conference crown and a CFP spot for the first time in program history.
No. 13 LSU at No. 10 Ole Miss, September 19th
This is the second time LSU appeared on USA Today’s list of games impacting the College Football Playoff race. We already had a “game of the year” candidate in Week 1, but LSU-Ole Miss might take the cake.
Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford and the noise levels will be deafening. The winner of this game has the inside track to an at-large bid, if not the SEC Championship Game. Both are talented enough to make runs, perhaps Ole Miss is a little more talented with an established CFP roster, but it would be ultimate drama if the Tigers come in and spoil the party.
No. 3 Georgia at No. 11 Alabama, October 10th
Alabama recently ran this matchup, winning three in a row and it was one of Kalen DeBoer’s claims to fame. But the College Football Playoff rankings were shaken up last year when the Bulldogs dominated in the SEC Championship Game.
This game is in Tuscaloosa, a place where Georgia has routinely struggled. If Alabama gets this one again, it could start an elite stretch where they have Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU after this matchup.
No. 14 USC at No. 17 Penn State, October 10th
Judging by USC’s first game of the season, they might be different this season. Lincoln Riley is under pressure to make the College Football Playoff for the first time with the Trojans, but Penn State could play spoiler.
The Nittany Lions should be competitive, but they might not be in the elite tier of the Big Ten, at least in 2026. Since this game is at home, Penn State should have a legit shot at beating their West Coast foes before playing Michigan the following week.
A rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship Game, but in mid-October. Bloomington is going to be buzzing. Indiana is in the running to return to the College Football Playoff and perhaps win back to back titles.
If they keep up appearances, Indiana could win this game and ultimately vault to No. 1 once again under Curt Cignetti. If Ohio State wins, it’s a massive boost to the resume, especially if they fall to Oregon later in the year.
Notre Dame eventually lost their chance at the College Football Playoff when they lost to Miami early in the 2025 season. This game might have bigger implications since it’s in November and in South Bend this time around.
With the way the schedule shakes out, Marcus Freeman and crew have to win two, if not all three, against Miami, BYU and SMU. Miami is the overwhelming ACC favorite, so losing to Notre Dame likely won’t kill their chances at returning to the CFP.
Imagine if these rankings hold by this point of the season. Ohio State and Oregon being the top two teams in the country could be a preview of the Big Ten Championship and a late game in the College Football Playoff, maybe the title game?
This game is for inside positioning in the CFP race, has Big Ten title implications and it will test the gumption of both programs. The final month for Oregon features Ohio State, Michigan and Washington while Ohio State has Indiana before this game and Michigan afterward.
No. 4 Texas at No. 8 Texas A&M, November 27th
Last year’s matchup threw Texas A&M for a loop and nearly got Texas into the College Football Playoff. Both teams are likely to make it this year, considering the hype and praise thrown the Longhorns’ way.
But Texas A&M won’t lay down easy. They went 11-0 last year before a loss to Texas and a first-round CFP loss to Miami ended their year. Playing in College Station should have the nation buzzing for this finale.
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