#1 out of 10
sports1d ago
Predicting new College Football Playoff teams, plus weak QB classes and more in Mandel’s Mailbag
- Mandel predicts Ohio State, Oregon, and Georgia as top CFP contenders for 2026, with Miami and Indiana in the extended mix.
- The author sees seven to eight new CFP teams likely each season, reflecting high turnover in the field.
- Mandel notes transfer-era QB uncertainty and whether NIL money keeps players in college longer.
- The piece discusses a potential CFP upset path for Group of Six teams, noting Boise State’s relevance.
- Mandel weighs Alabama’s prospects, suggesting continued CFP contention but with a more challenging modern landscape.
- The discussion also touches scheduling timing challenges from cross-country TV deals and viewer fatigue.
- Mandel highlights potential conference realignment moves as major deals expire in the mid-2030s.
- The author answers readers’ questions about the next era for Alabama and the 'G6' Playoff potential.
- The piece notes the Pac-12’s 'top five league' branding and Boise State’s role in the G6 landscape.
- Mandel references a 12-team field shift and how last season’s CFP teams inform this year’s ranking.
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