Brian Kelly and Rick Neuheisel name college football playoff favorites

Former college football head coaches Brian Kelly and Rick Neuheisel provided their predictions for the 2026 College Football Playoff champion. Speaking on September 2, 2026, Kelly selected Ohio State to win the title, citing the return of a veteran quarterback and the performance of a defense led by Matt Patricia. Conversely, Neuheisel chose Notre Dame to secure the championship. The Irish enter the season with CJ Carr at quarterback and a defensive unit guided by Chris Ash. These prognostications follow an offseason where Ohio State faced a quarterfinals exit in the previous playoff cycle following a loss to Miami. The upcoming season serves as the testing ground for these media analysts' forecasts as the playoff bracket unfolds in the coming months.

• 7:42 PMYahoo Sports — Brian Kelly makes his pick to win the 2026 College Football Playoff