The 2026 college football season is upon us and while there may still be nine more days before the biggest games start, Alabama legend Greg McElroy is ready to make his College Football Playoff predictions now.
On the latest episode of his “Always College Football” podcast, McElroy made all of his biggest picks for the 2026 college football season. He made his four picks from the major power conferences, explained how he expects the College Football Playoff Selection Committee to swing and broke down the field he expects.
Here were his picks:
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Miami
- Georgia
- Texas
- Oregon
- Indiana
- Alabama
- USC
- BYU
- Oklahoma
- Fresno State
Breaking down the picks
McElroy’s first four out were Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Penn State. He had Notre Dame as the only undefeated team in the nation on his list.
“I have Notre Dame going 12-0. When forecasting the College Football Playoff and looking way in advance, they are going to be my No. 1 overall seed and my only undefeated team on the board,” he said.
But he had a lot of good things to say about second-place Ohio State, who he has the team losing on the road against Texas on September 12 before reeling off 11 straight wins.
“I have Ohio State sitting there at 11-1 during the regular season, and they win it in Indianapolis. They’re my No. 1 team, they’re the AP’s No. 1 team, … (so) they’re No. 1 for me for a reason.”
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Texas he believes will make the College Football Playoff this year as a 10-3 team and suspects that the committee will show them mercy due to their tough schedule. As for reigning national champion Indiana, he believes they won’t be same unbeaten team that shocked the world last year but will still go 10-2 thanks to their defensive line.
“I still look at what this team has… their D-line is still outstanding, and I have them at 10-2, but I had the likelihood of them winning a national championship slightly higher just a couple of days ago,” McElroy said of the Hoosiers.
And, of course, he had his alma mater Alabama getting in as a 10-2 team with newly-minted starter Keelon Russell.
“I have Alabama in at 10-2, … with a quarterback that’s thrown 15 passes in his entire college career… I think the offense will be… very dynamic with Keelon Russell at quarterback.”
Do you agree with McElroy’s list? If not, who do you have on the list instead?
