Two Group of Six teams made the College Football Playoff last season: James Madison and Tulane. At least one will make the field this year. Could it be the new Pac-12 champ?
Here are my predictions for the champion of every G6 conference in 2026:
Pac-12
Boise State (10-2, 7-1 Pac-12)
Running backs Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines form what might be the best backfield in the conference, steady quarterback Maddux Madsen is back, and the Broncos’ passing game should improve this year with the additions of Darren Morris (Southern) and Akeem Wright (Mount Union). There are still some questions on defense, but the secondary should be solid with nickel Jaden Mickey and cornerback Sherrod Smith leading the way.
San Diego State could claim the first title in this new era of the Pac-12. The Aztecs have to rebuild the defense, but running back Lucky Sutton and quarterback Jayden Denegal are back to lead a talented offense.
Mountain West
Hawaii (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West)
The Rainbow Warriors have the Mountain West’s most exciting offense, led by sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado, who threw for 3,106 yards and 24 touchdowns last fall, and wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, who has caught 220 passes for 2,288 yards and 23 touchdowns the past three seasons. Hawaii hit the transfer portal hard, adding impact players such as running back DeVon Rice (Kansas State), cornerback Caleb Brown (Virginia Tech), safety Kodi DeCambra (UNLV), and wide receiver Devin Alves (Virginia Tech), who may be the most underrated transfer in the conference.
Hawaii also benefits from a schedule that includes a manageable non-conference slate, no game against Air Force and home games against fellow title contenders UNLV, New Mexico, and North Dakota State.
American Conference
Navy (9-3, 7-1 American)
The Midshipmen have to replace the 60 touchdowns quarterback Blake Horvath scored the past two seasons. But his likely replacement, Braxton Woodson, is in his fourth season with the program, and Navy returns eight defenders who played at least 200 snaps last season.
Memphis and Tulane could find themselves back at the top of the rankings, but both programs are undergoing major roster turnover. UTSA may be Navy’s top competition if the Roadrunners’ defense shows improvement. The Midshipmen play at UTSA on Oct. 17.
Conference USA
Liberty (10-2, 7-1 CUSA)
The Flames won just four games last year after they collected 21 wins in head coach Jamey Chadwell’s first two seasons. Liberty is at its best when the running game is dominant, and that should be the case this year. Sophomore Jaylon Coleman is the top returning running back. He’s joined by four transfers: former four-star recruit Kam Davis (Florida State), Kanye Udoh (Arizona/Army), Justin Marshall (Colorado State), and Terron Kellman (Wyoming). On defense, the Flames need a rebuilt secondary to gel quickly, but the front seven returns plenty of starters.
Sun Belt
James Madison (11-1, 8-0 Sun Belt)
New head coach Billy Napier has to rebuild the roster, but he brought in the conference’s top transfer class, which includes 1,000-yard running back Nick Herman (Drake) and former four-star wide receiver Kylan Billiot (LSU). Herman, George Pettaway, and Jordan Fuller should form one of the better backfields in the conference. Napier has yet to name a starting quarterback, but Camden Coleman looks like the frontrunner. He went 13-1 as the starter at Richmond before transferring to JMU last year. Old Dominion is also a team to watch if head coach Ricky Rahne can get a talented transfer class to gel quickly.
MAC
Miami (Ohio) (9-3, 7-1 MAC)
The Redhawks had one of the top defenses in the conference last season, and that shouldn’t change this fall. Miami returns a slew of defensive starters, including linebacker Malcolm McCain (73 tackles in 2025), defensive end Bai Jobe (four sacks in 2025), and veteran cornerbacks Mychal Yharbrough and Kaleb Martin.
There are still plenty of questions to answer on offense, including who will start at quarterback, but transfer running back Rodney Nelson looks like a potential star after he posted 1,802 yards and 18 touchdowns at Monmouth last season. He’ll run behind a line that returns four starters and adds a two-time All-MAC selection in former Northern Illinois left tackle Evan Malcore.
