Fox News
Three teams ranked outside the top-12 of the Coaches Poll who will make the College Football Playoff
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
LSU and SMU, ranked outside the top 12 in the Coaches Poll, are positioned to qualify for the College Football Playoff. A third team with similar polling status is also expected to secure a playoff berth. The specific playoff bracket and seeding will be determined following the completion of the regular season and conference championship games.
