Our 2026 College Football Playoff Predictions

Our 2026 College Football Playoff Predictions

Author: iHeartPodcasts August 25, 2026 Duration: 1:04:16

College football is finally here, which means there’s only one piece of preseason business left: putting our predictions on the record. In this episode, we each build a complete 12-team College Football Playoff field, debate the teams that just missed the cut, seed the bracket and play the whole thing forward through the national championship.

Along the way, we wrestle with some of the biggest questions surrounding the 2026 season. How many SEC teams can survive the league’s new nine-game schedule? Does the Big Ten get a fourth team? Can the Big 12 produce multiple playoff teams? And which Group of Five contender makes it through a particularly messy race for the automatic bid? There are also some aggressive calls involving Alabama, Houston, New Mexico, Notre Dame and several teams sitting right on the postseason bubble.

We work through potential first-round games, playoff paths and semifinal matchups before putting our national championship predictions on the record. Some picks felt safer than others, a few are almost guaranteed to come back and haunt us, and somehow we independently landed in exactly the same place at the very end.

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For over fifteen years, The Solid Verbal College Football has offered a distinct and engaging alternative to standard sports talk. Hosts Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein built this podcast from the ground up, bringing a conversational and often humorous energy to their analysis that feels more like a passionate discussion between friends than a formal broadcast. They dive into the weekly chaos, triumphs, and endless debates that define the college football season, providing insights that go beyond the typical headlines. What you’ll hear is a genuine back-and-forth: spirited debates on rankings and rivalries, deep dives into strategic nuances, and a handful of recurring segments that have become beloved trademarks for their dedicated audience. This isn't about simply recapping scores; it's about capturing the culture and unpredictable narrative of the sport. Their long-running chemistry ensures every episode is both informative and entertaining, making the complexities of the game accessible whether you've followed it for decades or are just finding your way in. As part of the iHeartPodcasts network, The Solid Verbal remains a foundational voice in the space, consistently delivering that unique blend of commentary that first set it apart. It’s the kind of podcast that makes the vast landscape of college football feel a little more personal and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Solid Verbal College Football Show
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