AP Top 25 Poll Projects Early College Football Playoff Scenarios
The first regular-season Associated Press Top 25 poll for college football has projected potential College Football Playoff matchups, including a first-round game featuring No. 9 seed Mississippi against No. 8 seed LSU, a team now coached by former Mississippi coach…
South Bend Elkhart, IN, September 8, 2026 — The initial regular-season Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll for college football has been released, offering early projections for potential College Football Playoff matchups. Among the scenarios outlined in the poll, a notable first-round game could pit No. 9 seed Mississippi against No. 8 seed LSU.
This projected matchup carries particular intrigue given the coaching situation at LSU. The team is now led by Lane Kiffin, who previously coached Mississippi. The specific date and year for this projected playoff scenario were not detailed in the poll’s initial release. Further details regarding the methodology behind the seeding or other projected matchups were not provided with the summary of this poll.
The AP Top 25 poll serves as an early indicator of team rankings and national perception as the college football season commences. The projected playoff pairings are hypothetical, based on the poll’s initial ranking of teams. The system of seeding for the College Football Playoff is typically determined later in the season, based on conference championships and final rankings.
Information regarding the specific criteria used for the projections or any further breakdown of potential playoff pathways beyond the Mississippi vs. LSU contest was not immediately available. The full scope of the poll’s implications for the season’s trajectory will become clearer as teams compete and rankings evolve.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
