Six teams that could make the College Football Playoff for the first time

Over the first two seasons of the expanded College Football Playoff (2024-25), 12 teams have made their inaugural CFP appearance.

A month into the 2026 season, some programs are shaping up to be the likeliest to follow in those footsteps.

Below, we take a closer look at six potential playoff crashers this December.

Associated Press No. 8 BYU Cougars (4-0, 2-0 in Big 12)

Next: vs. Iowa State Cyclones (3-2, 1-1 in Big 12) • Friday, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN | Since 2024, only six programs have more wins the BYU (27). In fact, of the 12 power conference (and Notre Dame) schools with at least 23 wins over the past three seasons, the Cougars are the only without a playoff appearance.

As one of the favorites to win the Big 12 — BYU has the third-highest odds (19.8 percent), according to ESPN's Football Power Index — the program may soon find itself on the right side of the bubble after ranking No. 17 (2024) and No. 12 (2025) in the final CFP polls the past two years.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has largely avoided the dreaded sophomore slump experienced by fellow promising 2025 freshman such as Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (California), Bryce Underwood (Michigan) and Malik Washington (Maryland), although last Saturday's ugly 11-of-24 passing performance against TCU was worrisome. With star running back LJ Martin (lower leg) doubtful for Friday's game, he'll need to be much better against Iowa State.

A massive non-conference game against the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0 looms in Week 7, giving BYU a chance in a couple of weeks to record a season-defining win that would go a long way to securing a spot in the playoff, even without winning the Big 12 title.

Duke Blue Devils (4-0, 1-0 in ACC)

Next: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1 in ACC) • Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 | Last year's ACC champion is receiving little love, but head coach Manny Diaz deserves a ton of credit for keeping Duke afloat after former quarterback Darian Mensah's departure to Miami. 

Running back Nate Sheppard (91 carries, 644 rushing yards, nine total touchdowns) has been outstanding through four games, and with the Blue Devils' next five opponents having a combined 11-12 record, they have an outside chance of entering a Week 11 road trip to Miami without a blemish. 

Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0, 2-0 in Big Ten)

Week 6: vs. No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0 in Big Ten) • Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, Fox | Nebraska has convincingly won its first five games yet still has plenty of skeptics with the defending champions coming to town. The cynicism is justified, however, after the Cornhuskers faded down the stretch of head coach Matt Rhule's first three seasons. After ending 2023 on a four-game losing streak, Nebraska went 1-5 and 2-4, respectively, over its final six games in 2024 and 2025.

But the computers are beginning to respect the Cornhuskers, who have the third-highest odds (28.6 percent) of reaching the playoff among programs without a previous CFP berth, per ESPN's FPI. Upcoming games against No. 13 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State and No. 20 Iowa could solidify Nebraska's place in the playoff hunt or continue its troubling trend under Rhule.

No. 21 UCLA Bruins (4-0, 2-0 in Big Ten)

Week 6: at No. 13 Oregon Ducks (3-1, 1-0 in Big Ten) • Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS | Former James Madison coach Bob Chesney transformed UCLA overnight, and Saturday's trip to Oregon offers a chance for him to earn his first signature win. He may need it. The Bruins avoid the conference's best teams, with No. 19 USC the only other ranked opponent on their schedule. With an average margin of victory of 26 points per game, UCLA may need to continue to steamroll opponents if it loses Saturday to receive serious consideration from the committee.

No. 12 Utah Utes (4-0, 1-0 in Big 12)

Week 6: vs. Kansas Jayhawks (2-2, 0-1 in Big 12) • Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN | Utah has the ninth-best odds (49 percent) of qualifying for the CFP, the highest among prospective first-timers. The Utes benefit from what's the projected fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule among Big 12 teams, but that also may give Utah less grace from the committee if it falters. In a winnable conference, however, it may leave the decision out of their hands. 

North Dakota State Bison (5-0, 2-0 in Mountain West)

Week 6:  at UNLV Rebels (3-2, 1-0 in Mountain West) • Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, CW | Boise State has made a compelling case as the best Group of Six team, but among its challengers for the title is North Dakota State in its first season at the FBS level.

The Bison have already pitched two shutouts heading into their toughest game of season at UNLV, helping put the team second in scoring defense. A lackluster strength of schedule ranking (No. 137) could be a major hit to North Dakota State's CFP chances. But as long as it keeps winning — and other top G6 contenders start losing — it may qualify by default.