Sep 30, 2026 · 43 min
Klatt redraws the playoff field after college football’s first month
Joel Klatt’s New College Football Playoff Bracket Prediction
Early losses, conference races and the case for a Group of Six entrant could reshape how the inaugural 12-team field is understood.
- 1Joel Klatt’s October projection weighs conference championship paths alongside the first month’s uneven results.
- 2Boise State’s narrow loss to Oregon and strong Group of Six wins support its case for playoff consideration.
- 3The Save College Sports Act could alter the structure and future of college athletics.
Don't miss
Klatt argues that Boise State’s close loss to Oregon, paired with strong wins over other Group of Six contenders, can strengthen rather than end its playoff case.
The brief
Joel Klatt opens an October College Football Playoff projection by testing how early inconsistency, conference races and championship paths should shape a 12-team field.
Texas A&M becomes an early case study in the difficulty of projecting a contender: the program has shown both inconsistency and stretches of success.
The projection weighs teams including Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU, UCLA, Wisconsin and Penn State as early losses begin to reshape the bracket.
Boise State’s close loss to Oregon does not end its case; strong wins over other Group of Six contenders give the Broncos a route into consideration.
The episode closes with Klatt’s reaction to the Senate’s Save College Sports Act and its potential consequences for college athletics.