Preseason frontrunners for the 12-team College Football Playoff include Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Miami, driven by returning talent, experienced coaching staffs, and favorable schedules relative to Power conference competition. The format awards automatic bids to Power Four conference champions plus the highest-ranked Group of Six team, with the rest filled by at-large selections based on final rankings. Early September results, including Week 1 matchups like Clemson at LSU and Boise State at Oregon, will shape initial movement as teams establish conference positioning and strength-of-schedule metrics. Roster health, transfer portal additions, and quarterback stability remain central variables, while historical trends show that undefeated or one-loss Power conference records typically secure bids amid the expanded field.