ESPN Simulates 2026 College Football Season, Highlights Unexpected Possibilities

ESPN’s analytics team used SP+ projections to run one million simulations of the 2026 college football season. The study explored a wide array of outcomes, from unlikely playoff runs for teams like Akron to the possibility of Cal capturing the national title. While no single result emerged as a certainty, the simulations underscored the breadth of plausible scenarios that could unfold over the course of the season. The exercise demonstrates how advanced modeling can map the full spectrum of competitive possibilities, offering teams, analysts, and fans a richer understanding of what the season might hold.