Party crashers: Five dark-horse CFP candidates

In the 12-team College Football Playoff format, the beauty of the expanded bracket is the possibility of non-traditional powers getting a true crack at a national championship.

While the first year ended with heavyweights Ohio State and Notre Dame in the championship, schools like Indiana, SMU and Arizona State earned bids. Not many foresaw any of those schools getting an invite at the beginning of the season.

Who are the dark-horse candidates in 2025-26? Here's one team from each of the Power Four conferences, along with a Group of Five member that could crash the party.

ACC | Louisville

The Cardinals reached as high as No. 19 in last season's CFP rankings, but they lost four games by a combined 24 points, including seven-point losses to Notre Dame, SMU and Miami.

USC transfer Miller Moss (2,555 yards, 18 TD, 9 INT in 2024) will lead the offense at quarterback this season. Can he find some chemistry with fellow transfer wide receivers TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State) and Dacari Collins (NC State)?

If the Cardinals are to make the CFP, it will come down to the final three games of the season against Clemson, SMU and Kentucky.

Big Ten | Illinois

Like Louisville, Illinois wasn't too far from the CFP last season. The Illini were 10-3 with two losses coming against Penn State and Oregon. Bret Bielema's team is once again led by quarterback Luke Altmyer (2,717 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT). 

In the transfer era, returning 18 starters is nearly unheard of. Is Illinois ready for the next step? Keep an eye on Oct. 11 when Ohio State visits Champaign. It will be a good measuring stick of where the Illini are at.