Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Texas headline preseason projections for the top four College Football Playoff seeds, driven by returning talent, recent conference title contention, and strength of schedule. The Coaches Poll released this month placed Ohio State first with overwhelming support, followed closely by Oregon and Georgia, reflecting their 2025 playoff runs and roster continuity under Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, and Kirby Smart. Texas benefits from SEC competition and offensive weapons, while Notre Dame and Indiana sit just outside with strong supporting votes. Early September nonconference games and subsequent rankings releases will quickly reshape the committee's evaluations, with factors like quarterback stability, injury reports, and head-to-head results among contenders carrying significant weight in determining first-round byes.