B/R's 2026 College Football Playoff Bracket Projections and Predictions after Week 3

Ole Miss solidified its upside as a College Football Playoff hopeful with an emotional win over LSU in Week 3.

But at the same time, the result didn't exactly crush Lane Kiffin's team.

In fact, because of Kentucky's upset win at Texas A&M, LSU remains at the fringe of the early Playoff bracket. While the Tigers dropped a few spots in the AP Top 25, they stayed put at No. 10 in B/R's latest ranking.

Otherwise, only a few teams shifted a spot or two—such as Georgia, Miami and Notre Dame, but each squad remains in position for a first-round bye.

The projected bracket is a reflection of B/R's Top 25 dropped into the organization of the official CFP format.

Texas Tech 28, Houston 26 Louisville 41, SMU 31

Texas Tech stopped a two-point conversion to seal a tight victory over Houston, and Louisville nabbed three takeaways and forced two turnovers on downs to survive a high-scoring affair with SMU. In short, both Tech and Louisville picked up a valuable conference win that might be very helpful in tiebreakers this season.

Kentucky, meanwhile, whipped a wrench into the SEC with a surprising road upset. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed threw for just 236 yards at 4.8 per attempt, also tossing two interceptions. Suddenly, the Aggies' trip to LSU in Week 4—already a meaningful game—is extremely important on both sidelines.

LSU overcame a 17-point deficit to even the score at 24, but Trinidad Chambliss ignited the home crowd with a late 14-yard touchdown run. Game narratives aside, the victory gave Ole Miss a second Top 25 triumph in just three weeks.

1. Texas 2. Georgia 3. Notre Dame 4. Miami 5. Ole Miss 6. Indiana 7. Ohio State 8. USC 9. Alabama 10. LSU 11. BYU 12. Texas Tech 13. Utah 14. Tennessee 15. Louisville 16. Penn State 17. Mississippi State 18. Iowa 19. Virginia Tech 20. Missouri 21. Kansas State 22. Michigan 23. Duke 24. Florida 25. Texas A&M

Seeding is a reflection of how B/R's Top 25 would shape the bracket.

Power 4 Champions and Top Group of 6 Team

Top CFB winners and losers after dramatic slate

I have bad news for a prominent SEC program: You're about to lose again.

LSU fell short in Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, and Texas A&M imploded at home. And in Week 4, the former hosts the latter.

Given the resources—read: money—invested into both programs, the expectation is to compete for the College Football Playoff. Generally speaking, that means a power-conference team needs to finish 10-2 or better in the regular season.

Well, one of LSU and Texas A&M is destined for a 2-2 record.

Three losses is not necessarily a CFP death sentence, but 2024 Clemson won an ACC title and 2025 Alabama made the SEC Championship Game. Those programs, clearly, stayed in their respective league races—and whichever team drops the showdown in Baton Rouge will already have two SEC setbacks.

Saturday is not a must-win game for LSU or A&M. The loser, however, will immediately take on that pressure in Week 5 and beyond.

Kicking off an exciting Saturday, the noon window features a pair of Top 25 games within the SEC. Arch Manning and No. 1 Texas head to Tennessee, which is 3-0 but hasn't played a difficult schedule. Oklahoma's reeling offense is set to face a major challenge when it travels to second-ranked Georgia, as well.

The afternoon slate includes two more Top 25 matchups. While the Big Ten battle at Iowa may be a defensive slugfest, the SEC clash at Florida is more likely to showcase a couple of dangerous offenses. All four programs hold a 3-0 record.

Texas A&M at LSU Oregon at USC Missouri at Mississippi State

Seriously, what an action-packed day. The evening wraps up with three Top 25 skirmishes, including an under-the-radar SEC tilt between Mizzou and Mississippi State. Similar to the nerve-wracking stakes for A&M and LSU, Oregon—which lost to Oklahoma State in Week 2—is also hoping to avoid a 2-2 start.