John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Athlon Sports released College Football Playoff 12-Team Preseason Projections for 2026 and predicts LSU will make the playoff as the No. 10 seed.

LSU is one of four SEC teams in the projected 12-team bracket, along with Georgia (Projected SEC Champion), Texas, and Texas A&M.

College Football Playoff 12-Team Preseason Projections for 2026
The Projected Field for 2026-27


1. Ohio State (Projected Big Ten Champion)
2. Georgia (Projected SEC Champion)
3. Texas
4. Notre Dame
5. Indiana
6. Oregon
7. Miami (Projected ACC Champion)
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas A&M
10. LSU
11. Texas Tech (Projected Big 12 Champion)
12. Boise State (Projected highest-ranked G6 Team)

The Next Tier of CFB Playoff Contenders: Ole Miss, Michigan, USC, Alabama, BYU, Washington, Penn State, Houston, Utah, Tennessee, SMU, Louisville, Iowa, Florida and Clemson

The Next Tier of G6 Playoff Contenders (Projected Conference Champions): Navy, Western Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), UNLV and James Madison

Other G6 Teams to Watch: Memphis, UTSA, Army, Tulane, Liberty, Kennesaw State, Western Michigan, New Mexico, Hawaii, North Dakota State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Troy
Filed Under: LSU Sports
19 Comments
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olgoi khorkhoi10 hours
Man, if LSU makes the playoff and Bama and Ole Miss don't, the SEC rant is gonna be lit.
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mike4lsu10 hours
Paul Finebaum will spew venom at us.
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KCT6 hours
Like all good serpents do.
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jlbasm10 hours
Oklahoma?
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Hoops10 hours
Yeah they should be damn good this year
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theOG4 hours
Benefit of having the best defense in the country.
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khill71510 hours
I mean Texas plays 5 of the teams in the playoff during the season so I'm not so sure about this prediction.
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khill71510 hours
I guess 4 if they don't play Ga in the sec champ game.
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Shalimar Sid6 hours
So if this was the real deal. LSU at Miami for playoff game, right?
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sharkfhin8 hours
But wait where's ole piss? According to X, all of the ole piss accts have already claimed the 2026 national title. Shame on you.
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LSUrme10 hours
Texas Tech (Projected Monster Energy* Big 12 Champion)
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Bucky_B10 hours
So Oklahoma is moving out?

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jp4lsu3 hours
Sold! Ill take it!!
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SparkyDaHound3 hours
5 from the SEC ??
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Ssubba3 hours
Hate to say it, Bama is being slept on. Their new QB is going to be legit.
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Alexsportsdad2 hours
My understanding is Alabama has not even named the starting quarterback yet. They’re gonna wait until fall camp. It is between Mack and Russell.
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ChipKelly9 hours
I'm biased but the media is way too high on Washington. They are liable to finish 7-5.
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elesu19 hours
you do know that Oklahoma is still in the SEC!!
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Spankum7 hours
Ole Miss AND Bama both missing the playoffs? No chance of that happening….
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