I’m currently working on my College Football Playoff predictions for Thursday. I’m a little late on the posting because a lot has happened in my life for the past month in a half. I kept tabs on the current state of the college football world, and I’ll explain plenty in my upcoming podcast before Week 1.

For now, here are my selected 2026 conference champions. You may be surprised by a few, but I decided to wing it with a couple of teams that not many would expect. I’m going against the grain of analysts and experts that seem to have the obvious and making things interesting. Be on the lookout for more posts for the next few days. If you’re interested in listening to my Wolf’s Cave podcast, feel free to click on the name and it’ll take you straight to that link.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

UTSA

All the talk in the American goes to Navy, Tulane, USF, Army, and Memphis, but not enough towards UTSA. They could do something special this season if their defense improves. Three-year starting quarterback Owen McCown has the weapons and a stacked offensive line to make waves this season. They have a tough road in October that includes USF, Navy, and Tulane. Luckily, they host both USF and Navy. The rest of their schedule either are rebuilding or retooling, especially on their defense. The last time UTSA played in a conference title game was in C-USA, and it would be nice to play in a new conference title and potentially host one again too.

ACC

MIAMI

The one time that Miami participated in a conference championship game was in this conference in 2017, and they got plastered by CFP bound Clemson. Since then, they needed answers for a return. Last year was a farce of a finish, and for them to make the playoffs as the last At-Large team and make the National Championship is unspeakable. Now, there’s no excuse or reason that they won’t be in the ACC title game. They have one of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the country, a bell cow running back with depth, and a retooled defensive line that should be about as good as last season’s. If they’re not there, it’s because their offensive and defensive lines are new and/or retooled that could affect their ACC title opportunity.

BIG TEN

OHIO STATE

They’re likely back in the CFP, but it’s no cakewalk this time. They have a tough road against Texas, Iowa, Indiana, USC, maybe at Nebraska and two home games against Oregon and Michigan. Glad the Buckeyes are foundationally built to compete because this could’ve been a middling finish in their parallel universe. Maybe they come away with a loss or two losses with one of them being a conference loss, but they have the horses to make it to the Big Ten title game. Even if they don’t, they’re in the CFP. They probably lose to Oregon in the regular season but figure things out prior to the Big Ten title, have a rematch with the Ducks, and defeat them for the championship this time.

BIG 12

BYU

This could finally be BYU’s year to make the CFP. The schedule’s a little forgiving without Texas Tech on the schedule. They must go through Notre Dame at home, Arizona State, and face their rival Utah at Salt Lake. If the receivers improve without Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston, the offense is a problem to opposing defenses and it might even make Bear Bachmeier a Heisman candidate (and I believe it!). They’ll likely face Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game again, but they may have enough to keep up and outplay them this time.

C-USA

LIBERTY

I might be convinced that Liberty bounces back. Last season was a rollercoaster with coach Jamey Chadwell’s health issues he had to deal with. It definitely was difficult, but now he’s back along with the Flames’ C-USA title opportunity. Is there a chance they go undefeated? Not sure since they travel to face James Madison that played a CFP game. They also have tough road games at Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Kennesaw State, and Missouri State. If they have the offensive pieces to be better again and their defense can be stouter up front, Liberty will be right back in it. Maybe not the CFP just yet, but they’ll have enough to compete for a conference title.

MAC

TOLEDO

For a MAC team in a non-Power 4 conference, they always have high expectations. They’re right alongside Boise State even though it’s a tad lower than the Broncos, but they’re always high when it comes to competing for conference titles. It was met recently in 2017 and 2022 after a 13-year drought. They’re only 3 years out since their last appearance and could be motivated to make this one. They could easily run through their schedule and outplay Western Michigan despite having the most returns of any team in the MAC, but Toledo needs some new pieces to come together after a major haul through the portal and contributors returning from last season. Quarterback John Alan Richter waited patiently and now takes over and could lead the Rockets if he can adjust to the new coaching staff. That’s all it takes to easily return to the MAC championship.

MOUNTAIN WEST

NORTH DAKOTA STATE

The Bison are now at the FBS level with a bit tougher and more competitive competition, but has that ever stopped them before? New Mexico and UNLV are strong enough to compete for the Mountain West title now that the annoyance of Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State went to the new Pac-12. However, the arrival and strong presence of North Dakota State could put a damper on both conference title-aspired teams. The Bison faced FBS opponents nearly every year in and year out and have won a good amount of them while pursuing FCS championships. The offense is tough all over whether it’s in the trenches, the backfield, or in the skills position, and their defense plays tougher too. They were foundationally built to compete and treat every game as business. Without Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State’s intervention, the Bison could roll right through the conference and claim their prize in December prior to a bowl game. How weird is it that they’re not playing a postseason tournament? It is for me…

NEW PAC-12

FRESNO STATE

I’ll give the Bulldogs a chance this season. In the New Pac-12, Boise State’s still favored and San Diego State could be right on either one of them. Tread the Dogs lightly because they have the most returning players from last season and didn’t need to push into the portal for needed pieces except for depth. The defense could be as good as last year, and the offense has a chance to take a step further. Fresno’s loaded at receiver and have an offensive line that could stand out. The run game is the strength with Bryson Donelson and Rayshon Luke as the dynamic duo. All they need is quarterback Khristian Martin (Maryland transfer) to put everything together for a monstrous season and be the first to claim the New Pac-12 title.

SEC

GEORGIA

Nationwide expectations seem to always be focused on Texas and Arch Manning. Even Alabama still receives plenty of noise on the spotlight, for better or for worse. Georgia’s fine with all of it because those expectations have consistently crashed for both while the Dawgs fly over them to the SEC title game every year. With workhorse quarterback Gunner Stockton back with a tough run game, gritty offensive line, and a dangerous front seven, Georgia’s expected to make another run to the CFP. Their schedule’s tougher than last season with 9 SEC games, including Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia Tech. Not sure if Florida and Auburn have improved just yet with transfers and new coaches, but we’ll find out later. Unless any of them put a leash on the Dawgs, Georgia’s expected in the SEC championship again with another CFP appearance.

SUN BELT

JAMES MADISON

The conference seems very committed to James Madison’s Sun Belt title run again. Even with the loss of Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney, the foundation seems to be intact with running back George Pettaway returning after his CFP experience. In comes former Louisiana coach Billy Napier. He was let go by Florida, but it was a godsend by the conference to have Napier back. This could mean James Madison’s foundation stays strong and another Sun Belt title appearance is possible. They’re faced with some competitive non-conference opponents like San Diego State and Liberty. But then their conference play could go in many different ways because of opposing teams’ coaching changes and portal losses. Troy might be the closest team to compete James Madison for the Sun Belt title, but anyone on that schedule might come out of nowhere to blindside JMU. Until that time comes, James Madison’s back in the Sun Belt title game probably fighting for the Highest Group of 6 bid into the CFP again.