If you aren’t in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, or Big 12, life can be tough for your college football program. The rest of the conferences in college football have been shown the door and given very little respect. Boise State was lucky to have been given a bye week in the old CFP format where the top conference winners get to skate bye, but that will no longer be the case in 2026. This used to be the Group of 5, but with the Power 5 going to Power 4, we are adding the Pac 12 to this bunch. Here’s our 2026 Group of 6 breakdown.
Best Conference
- Pac 12 – The Pac 12 is back and has a completely new look. The best team in the conference is Boise State and should have a path at making the CFP.
- American – The American conference boasts Navy, Tulane and USF. There is a lot of talent in the American conference and they produce winners.
- Sun Belt – The Sun Belt has James Madison and there is no way to count out the Dukes when a chance for a perfect regular season is always on the line.
- Mountain West – No conference lost more this season than the Mountain West who lost Boise State, Fresno State, and others. UNLV is headed in the right direction at the very least.
- Conference USA – The best team in the conference was Kennesaw State which doesn’t instill a ton of confidence
- MAC – Oh, the Mac. Western Michigan went 10-4 but I think the country would riot before the CFP put a school in from this conference.
Three Schools who can make the CFP
G6 teams have the hardest sell to make the CFP, but they are granted a spot and likely just one.
- UNLV – The Runnin’ Rebels get to play in a weakened Mountain West conference where all of a sudden they are the big dogs. Dan Mullen led them to a 10-4 record in his first year as the head coach and went 6-2 in the conference. With tons of talent, Mullen could have a good shot at the CFP.
- James Madison – The Dukes really are the cream of the crop in the Group of Six. Billy Napier is in after Bob Chesney left for UCLA. JMU has established itself as one of the best lower conference schools and they know they can steamroll their conference competition.
- USF – The Bulls had a great season, so great that their head coach bolted for Auburn. But the Bulls finally have a culture and should be able to build off that. They have one of the easiest schedules in the country.