Louisville Cardinals and Arizona Wildcats emerge as College Football Playoff dark horses

As the 2026 NCAA College Football season approaches, dark horse candidates for the College Football Playoff include the Louisville Cardinals from the ACC and the Arizona Wildcats from the Big 12. Louisville, led by transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, aims to leverage a mix of returning talent and new transfers to compete effectively. Their season opener against Ole Miss will serve as a key indicator of their potential. Arizona’s Noah Fifita, who already holds many program records, looks to build on a successful 2025 season despite the loss of key receivers. The Wildcats have bolstered their roster with transfers and will look to make a significant impact in their new conference.

• 1:58 PMYahoo Sports — Dark horse teams that could make run at College Football Playoff during 2026 season