RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Now that the season is here, let’s do this. Who will win each conference championship? How will each of the 11 league races go? Who will be the players and coaches of the year, what will be the games of the year, and who will surprise and disappoint in each conference? We finish up our 26 for 2026 series with the No. 1 biggest thing going into the season – here’s what will happen. (Predicted records after each team are only for conference games.)
26 for 2026, No. 1: Predicting Every Conference Race
Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
ACC
CFN ACC Championship: Miami over Louisville
CFN Preseason ACC Player of the Year: Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: James Franklin, Virginia Tech
ACC Game of the Year: Miami at Clemson, Oct. 3
Most Impactful ACC Transfer: (besides Mensah) Alberto Mendoza, QB, Georgia Tech (from Indiana)
ACC Team Most Likely to Surprise: Virginia Tech
ACC Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Duke
3 ACC Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Miami, Louisville, Clemson
1. Miami (8-1) 2. Louisville (7-2) 3. Clemson (6-2) 4. Georgia Tech (5-3) T5. NC State (5-4) T5. SMU (5-4) T5. Virginia Tech (5-4) 8. Florida State (4-4) T9. Duke (4-5) T9. Pitt (4-5) T9. Cal (4-5) T9. Virginia (4-5) T13. Boston College (3-5) T13. North Carolina (3-5) 15. Wake Forest (3-6) T16. Stanford (2-7) T16. Syracuse (2-7) Note: The ACC plays an unbalanced schedule with some teams playing eight conference games and others playing nine.
American Conference
CFN American Championship: Navy over Army
CFN Preseason American Player of the Year: Caden Veltkamp, QB, Florida Atlantic
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Brian Newberry, Navy
American Game of the Year: East Carolina at Army, Nov. 21
Most Impactful American Transfer: Marcus Stokes, QB Memphis (from West Florida)
American Team Most Likely to Surprise: Temple
American Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Tulane
3 American Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Navy, East Carolina, Army
1. Navy (7-1) T2. Army (6-2) T2. East Carolina (6-2) T2. Tulane (6-2) T5. Memphis (5-3) T5. North Texas (5-3) T5. USF (5-3) T5. UTSA (5-3) 9. Temple (4-4) T10. Florida Atlantic (3-5) T10. Tulsa (3-5) 12. UAB (2-6) 13. Rice (1-7) 14. Charlotte (0-8)
Big Ten
CFN Big Ten Championship: Ohio State over Oregon
CFN Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year: Josh Hoover, QB, Indiana
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Big Ten Game of the Year: Ohio State at Indiana, Oct. 17
Most Impactful Big Ten Transfer: (besides Hoover) Terrell Anderson, WR, USC (from NC State)
Big Ten Team Most Likely to Surprise: Wisconsin
Big Ten Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Iowa
3 Big Ten Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana
1. Ohio State (9-0) T2. Indiana (7-2) T2. Michigan (7-2) T2. Oregon (7-2) T5. Penn State (6-3) T5. USC (6-3) T5. Wisconsin (6-3) T8. Illinois (5-4) T8. Iowa (5-4) T8. Washington (5-4) T11. Minnesota (3-6) T11. Nebraska (3-6) T11. Northwestern (3-6) T11. UCLA (3-6) T15. Maryland (2-7) T15. Michigan State (2-7) T17. Purdue (1-8) T17. Rutgers (1-8)
Big 12
CFN Big 12 Championship: Texas Tech over BYU
CFN Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year: Cade Uluave, LB, BYU
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Kalani Sitake, BYU
Big 12 Game of the Year: BYU at Utah, Nov. 7
Most Impactful Big 12 Transfer: (other than Uluave) Trey White, EDGE, Texas Tech (San Diego State)
Big 12 Team Most Likely to Surprise: Kansas State
Big 12 Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Arizona
3 Big 12 Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: BYU, Texas Tech, Utah
1. BYU (8-1) T2. Texas Tech (7-2) T2. Utah (7-2) T4. Arizona (6-3) T4. Arizona State (6-3) T4. Houston (6-3) T4. Kansas State (6-3) 8. TCU (5-4) T9. Iowa State (4-5) T9. West Virginia (4-5) T11. Baylor (3-6) T11. Oklahoma State (3-6) T11. UCF (3-6) 14. Kansas (2-7) T15. Cincinnati (1-8) T15. Colorado (1-8)
Conference USA
CFN Conference USA Championship: WKU over Kennesaw State
CFN Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year: Nick Minicucci, QB, Delaware
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Tyson Helton, WKU
Conference USA Game of the Year: Liberty at Kennesaw State, Oct. 21
Most Impactful Conference USA Transfer: Rickie Collins, QB, Kennesaw State (from Syracuse)
Conference USA Team Most Likely to Surprise: FIU
Conference USA Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Jacksonville State
3 Conference USA Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: (none without something miraculous, but …) WKU, Kennesaw State, Liberty
1. WKU (7-1) T2. Kennesaw State (6-2) T2. Liberty (6-2) 4. Jacksonville State (5-3) 5. FIU (4-4) T6. Delaware (3-5) T6. Middle Tennessee (3-5) T6. Missouri State (3-5) 9. New Mexico State (2-6) 10. Sam Houston (1-7)
MAC
CFN MAC Championship: Western Michigan over Miami University
CFN Preseason MAC Player of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: Lance Taylor, Western Michigan
MAC Game of the Year: Ohio at Miami University, Nov. 10
Most Impactful MAC Transfer: Austin Alexander, EDGE, Western Michigan (from North Carolina)
MAC Team Most Likely to Surprise: Kent State
MAC Team Most Likely to Disappoint: Toledo
3 MAC Teams With Best Shot To Make the CFP: (The MAC Champion would have to be almost perfect, but …) Western Michigan, Miami University, Ohio
T1. Miami University (7-1) T1. Western Michigan (7-1) 3. Ohio (6-2) T4. Central Michigan (5-3) T4. Toledo (5-3) T6. Bowling Green (4-4) T6. Eastern Michigan (4-4) T6. Kent State (4-4) T9. Ball State (3-5) T9. Buffalo (3-5) T11. Akron (2-6) T11. Sacramento State (2-6) 13. UMass (0-8)
Mountain West
CFN Mountain West Championship: Hawaii over North Dakota State
CFN Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year: Micah Alejado, QB, Hawaii
CFN Preseason Coach of the Year: ...
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