Boise State Draws 5 of 6 Expert Picks for 2026 CFP Spot as New Rules Cap G6 at 1
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Aug 28
Boise State Draws 5 of 6 Expert Picks for 2026 CFP Spot as New Rules Cap G6 at 1
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Aug 28
Summary
Five of six experts picked Boise State to claim the Group of Six’s lone guaranteed College Football Playoff berth, with one dissenting vote each for North Dakota State, UNLV and South Florida.
The race tightened because 2026 rules now lock in the Power Four champions and also reserve a place for Notre Dame if it finishes in the top 12, effectively leaving just one assured path for a G6 team.
Boise State’s case rests on Spencer Danielson’s prior playoff breakthrough, quarterback Maddux Madsen and a new-look Pac-12 schedule that could hinge on games against Fresno State and San Diego State.
Other contenders face unusual variables: North Dakota State enters FBS with immediate bowl eligibility after an NCAA rule change, UNLV leans on new coach Dan Mullen, and USF starts over under Brian Hartline.
The outlook is murkier than last year, when Tulane and James Madison both reached the bracket, because a busy 2025 coaching carousel reshaped much of the Group of Six.