2026 College Football Playoff bracket projection: UCLA just misses cut, Notre Dame into top four

UCLA is riding high off a road win over Oregon and its first 5-0 start since 2022. First-year coach Bob Chesney has injected new energy into the Bruins that has the college football world talking. The preseason expectations, which might have been as simple as making a bowl, have already been significantly heightened. Midway through the season, UCLA now has the 14th-best playoff odds in the country, according to CBS Sports' forecasting and projections team. With an easy schedule that includes only one ranked opponent (No.