The 2026 College Football Playoff is bringing back the 12-team format, just like we saw in 2025, with those top four teams snagging first-round byes no matter what. While Miami and Georgia are sitting pretty at -6000 odds, looking like absolute shoo-ins, things got real dicey for Ohio State after a brutal Week 9 loss that sent their playoff odds tumbling from -750 to -175.
Unstoppable Forces: Miami and Georgia Lock It Down
At the top of the board for a third week running, you’ve got Miami, and now Georgia has joined them at the -6000 mark. The Canes are still rocking that No. 1 spot in the country, moving to 8-0 with a tight 38-35 road win over North Carolina in Week 9. They were at -3500 last week, so their odds are looking even stronger. The only catch for Miami? Their schedule. They haven’t faced a ranked team yet, and the only ranked matchup on their horizon is Notre Dame on November 7. That’s gonna be a real test.
Then there’s Georgia, who absolutely demolished Florida 27-8 in Week 9. These Bulldogs have been through a gauntlet of a schedule already, and they’re not slowing down. Up next, they’ve got ranked Ole Miss and then ranked Missouri. Talk about earning your spot, right?
Buckeyes On The Brink After Sayin Goes Down
Ohio State’s path to the Playoff just got a whole lot tougher. They did manage to get past Indiana back in Week 7, but it came at a massive cost: starting QB Julian Sayin was lost in that game. After a bye in Week 8, the Buckeyes rolled into USC for their first game without Sayin, with freshman Luke Fahey under center. And man, it did not go swimmingly.
OSU dropped a tough one to the Trojans, 30-18. Fahey put up 260 passing yards and a touchdown, and Jeremiah Smith added 83 receiving yards and a score, which is something. But that loss was a huge blow to their Playoff chances, sending their odds from a solid -750 all the way down to -175. Looking at their schedule ahead, it’s not getting any easier. They still have Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan on the slate. The question everyone is asking now, and honestly, we’re all thinking it: Can they possibly survive a third loss this season?
Miami’s date with Notre Dame on November 7 is going to be a must-watch to see if they can prove their No. 1 ranking against a ranked opponent. For Georgia, it’s about continuing their dominance against two more ranked teams in Ole Miss and Missouri. But all eyes are going to be on Ohio State. With Sayin out and that gauntlet of a schedule ahead, every game is now a playoff game for them. We’ll see if they can somehow claw their way back into contention.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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