2025-26 College Football Playoff: What's next for Alabama?

The fact that the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round kicks off just before the transfer portal officially opens epitomizes a sport where the present and future constantly clash.

Four unfortunate teams will see their future become the present, after losses in much-anticipated quarterfinal matchups. Alabama became the third team off the board following its loss at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential.

There isn't much time to lament the defeat, as the Jan. 2 portal looms and upcoming NFL draft decisions will shuffle depth charts and rosters. Teams must assess key players returning and leaving, create wish lists for the portal and assess where incoming recruits fit into the plan.

As teams fully turn the page toward the 2026 season, here's a look at the most pressing questions, recruiting and portal priorities and predictions for what will follow in the fall. -- Adam Rittenberg

Jump to:
Alabama | Texas Tech | Ohio State
James Madison | Tulane
Texas A&M | Oklahoma

Alabama Crimson Tide

2025 record: 11-4

Biggest question moving forward: The Crimson Tide's first round CFP win over Oklahoma cut out the possibility of coach Kalen DeBoer bolting for the Michigan job. After getting Alabama back to the playoff in 2025, can DeBoer elevate the Crimson Tide another notch or two and return the program to true national title contention? Some of that will hinge on who's playing quarterback in Tuscaloosa next fall. It's also contingent on whether DeBoer & Co. can increase the number of truly elite players on Alabama's roster from the top down. After taking a conservative approach to the transfer market during the 2025 offseason, the Crimson Tide could benefit from a more active portal window this year. Another strong class in the latest cycle should boost DeBoer's roster, too. Alabama got better under DeBoer this fall. Whether or not the Crimson Tide take the next step in 2026 will be decided on how well it can retool before next fall. -- Eli Lederman

Recruiting outlook: For a second straight cycle, Alabama waited until the summer to heat up on the recruiting trail before surging to land the nation's No. 7 overall class. The Crimson Tide loaded up on elite back-seven talent in 2026, landing signatures from top-ranked safety Jireh Edwards (No. 16 overall), four-star cornerbacks Jorden Edmonds (No. 33) and Zyan Gibson (No. 65) and No. 3 outside linebacker Xavier Griffin (No. 26). Gibson is one of six members of an impressive in-state recruiting group that includes No. 3 running back Ezavier Crowell (No. 34) and wide receiver Cederian Morgan (No. 36). Alabama padded its quarterback depth with quarterbacks Jett Thomalla and Tayden-Evan Kaawa, and the Crimson Tide could have a future starter in late-rising offensive tackle Jared Doughty. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Alabama was rather selective in portal recruiting last offseason with only three full-time starters added in a class that mostly provided depth. The Tide have a few positions that could use help when the portal opens in January, though the biggest needs might depend a bit on upcoming draft decisions. They're losing three senior linebackers between Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill-Green and could lose up to four starters along the offensive line if Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford go pro. This staff already got a head start on their offseason portal class with the addition of Oklahoma State transfer tight end Josh Ford. They should benefit from how many premium SEC players become available amid the coaching changes at Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU. -- Max Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Alabama could be faced with replacing its starting quarterback in 2026 if Ty Simpson heads to the NFL. Regardless of who's under center next fall, the Crimson Tide have to prioritize improving a rushing attack that entered the postseason ranked 117th nationally, averaging just 116.2 yards per game. Without a clear successor for starter Jam Miller, Alabama could look to the portal for replacements. There's also a belief that four-star signee Crowell, will be ready to contribute from Day 1 next fall. With an infusion of talent in the backfield and reinforcements along the offensive line, the Crimson Tide run game could be poised for a rebound next fall. -- Lederman

2026 prediction: Alabama is poised to remain a CFP contender in 2026. Barring a surprise, the Crimson Tide will have either Simpson or former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell under center next fall. Meanwhile, back-to-back top 10 signing classes under DeBoer appear primed to support a budding, young core in Tuscaloosa. With a manageable schedule in front of it and stability on the sidelines, Alabama should be right back in the mix next fall. -- Lederman

Texas Tech Red Raiders

2025 record: 12-2

Biggest question moving forward: Can Texas Tech run it back in 2026? Joey McGuire and the Red Raider leadership are highly confident that their Big 12 title run will be the first of many for this program. They're investing at an elite level for sustained success and have no intentions of taking a step back next year. This was a must-win year for McGuire and Tech, and anything less than a Big 12 championship would've felt like a failure. Once they achieved that mission with the program's first outright conference title since 1955, they felt like they were playing with house money as they chased a CFP National Championship. They certainly didn't envision their run concluding with a shutout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl, and this ending is going to hurt for a little while. But now that the Red Raiders have gotten this far, they're living with a new level of expectations going forward. While Texas Tech is about to have more NFL draft picks this spring than ever before, this team could get as many as a dozen starters back next season. Texas Tech will supplement that core group of experienced contributors with another portal class of top-end talent in January, and this squad should benefit from an offseason of continuity with coordinators Mack Leftwich and Shiel Wood returning for their second year in Lubbock. It's safe to say, they'll be the preseason Big 12 favorite entering 2026. -- Max Olson

Recruiting outlook: The Red Raiders' emergence as a disruptor in the talent acquisition game extended on to the high school recruiting trail in 2026 as Texas Tech signed six ESPN 300 recruits in the latest cycle, sealing the program's highest count of top 300 additions since 2006. Anchoring coach Joey McGuire's incoming class are five-stars LaDamion Guyton and Felix Ojo, two of the highest-ranked signees in program history. Guyton, who reclassified from the 2027 cycle, is ESPN's No. 1 outside linebacker in 2026; Ojo, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle from Mansfield, Texas, picked the Red Raiders over Texas, Ohio State, Michigan and Florida and projects as a potential multiyear starter. Former Michigan tight end signee Matt Ludwig (No. 288 overall) marked an intriguing late addition for Texas Tech, which is already making moves in the 2027 class, too, with commitments from five-star defensive tackle Jalen Brewster (No. 6 overall) and four-star quarterback Kavian Bryant (No. 26) among four ESPN Junior 300 pledges in the upcoming cycle. -- Eli Lederman

Biggest portal priority: The clear No. 1 priority for the Red Raiders is winning the battle for Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The 31-game starter is the top QB on their board and viewed as a potential first-round draft pick. He would bring invaluable Big 12 experience to the table in taking over for Behren Morton. If Sorsby ends up going to LSU or elsewhere, it'll be fascinating to see which QB gets prioritized by GM James Blanchard and Tech's coaching staff. After building one of the best defensive lines in college football via the portal last offseason, the Red Raiders are expected to once again spend millions on top D-line transfers to succeed their NFL-bound stars. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: One of the not-so-secret ingredients of Texas Tech's rise in 2025 was exceptional player leadership. How will McGuire make up for what seniors such as Morton, Jacob Rodriguez and Bryce Ramirez brought to his locker room? Even several of its transfer additions, including Skyler Gill-Howard and Lee Hunter, became invaluable voices as leaders in their first year in the program. It's time for a new crew of leaders to step up and take over this team as the Red Raiders work to rally back from a tough ending to their season. -- Olson

2026 prediction: The Red Raiders respond to a heartbreaking ending to their dream season with another headline-grabbing portal shopping spree and effectively reload to defend their Big 12 title. If they get the QB and D-line acquisitions right, they'll be right back in the conversation as a preseason CFP contender. -- Olson

Ohio State Buckeyes

2025 record: 12-2

Biggest question moving forward: For the second straight offseason, Ohio State coach Ryan Day has to replace his offensive coordinator, with Brian Hartline taking the South Florida head coaching job. Over the past two years, Day has hired an external candidate (Chip Kelly) and promoted from within (Hartline). He'll have the option to do either this time. Day has been effusive in his praise of co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, who would appear to be next in line internally to call plays after a decade as an assistant in Columbus. Day recently said that Bailey "does a lot of the heavy lifting" on the staff in terms of preparation and brings a "tremendous amount of value" to the offense. But if Day decides to hire from the outside, he'll have no shortage of quality candidates interested, especially with star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith returning and quarterback Julian Sayin and running back Bo Jackson coming off banner freshman seasons. -- Jake Trotter

Recruiting outlook: The Buckeyes held onto five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (No. 7 overall) during the early signing period, and the nation's top-ranked pass catcher enters 2026 as the headliner of an Ohio State class that ranks ninth in ESPN's rankings for the cycle. Henry is one of only three skill position talents among the Buckeyes' 12 ESPN 300 signees. That's because Ohio State went heavy on defensive talent in the 2026 class, inking No. 4 safety Blaine Bradford (No. 43), top 10 linebackers Cincere Johnson (No. 80) and Simeon Caldwell (No. 92) and defensive end Khary Wilder (No. 73) within a deep group of talented defenders that also includes cornerback Jay Timmons (No. 195), the son of former Super Bowl champion Lawrence Timmons. Five-stars Jamier Brown (No. 2 in the ESPN Junior 300) and D.J. Jacobs (No. 11) lead a group of eight prospects already committed to the Buckeyes in the 2027 recruiting class. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: The Buckeyes have been selective in portal recruiting under Day, focusing on premium players at needed positions rather than stockpiling transfer talent. Their wish list will likely depend to some degree on NFL draft decisions. One obvious target when the portal opens Friday will be Penn State freshman pass rusher Chaz Coleman, a former ESPN 300 recruit from Warren, Ohio, who's expected to be among the top edge players available. It'll be interesting to see if Ohio State decides to pursue a proven wideout to pair with Jeremiah Smith and help replace the production of Carnell Tate. This program shouldn't have any trouble landing an elite option at that position if it's in the market for one. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Ohio State needs to address the trenches to contend for the national title again in 2026. The Buckeyes had a talented and productive defensive line this season, but the bulk of that unit will be moving on to the NFL. The offensive line, meanwhile, was solid for most of the year but really struggled against Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and then again in the playoff setback to Miami. If the Buckeyes hammer the portal, the lines should be a priority. -- Trotter

2026 prediction: The Buckeyes will be back in the playoff. There's just too much returning talent. Ohio State will have three daunting road trips on the 2026 slate (Texas, Indiana, USC), plus a pair of critical home showdowns against Oregon and Michigan. But Ohio State's offensive firepower figures to be the envy of college football yet again with Sayin, Jackson and Smith, plus the top-rated incoming receiving recruit in the country in Henry leading the way. Day has reached double-digit wins in every season since taking over in 2019 (save the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic). If he gets back to 10 victories, the Buckeyes almost assuredly will be playoff bound for a third straight year. -- Trotter

James Madison Dukes

2025 record: 12-2

Biggest question moving forward: Can JMU make it three-for-three on coaching hires? Curt Cignetti reached the top of the mountain in the FCS and led JMU to a stellar start at the FBS level. When he left for Indiana, Bob Chesney arrived and delivered equally impressive results, getting the Dukes into the College Football Playoff. Now, Chesney is off to UCLA, and James Madison turns to Billy Napier, a coach with a history of success in the Sun Belt but who is coming off a disastrous turn at Florida. JMU's goal has always been to measure itself against its peers rather than the upper echelon of college football, but 2025 offered a taste of the good life, and it's now on Napier to continue to build toward that again in 2026 and beyond. The job of winning consistently at the Group of Five level has never been harder, and JMU's aspirations have never been higher. -- David Hale

Recruiting outlook: The Dukes emerged as one of the Sun Belt's premier programs under Cignetti and Chesney, and there's no reason to think they'll fall off moving forward with Napier in charge. James Madison's latest class is led by three-star cornerback Kamden Jennings, an undersized but explosive defensive back from Alpharetta, Georgia. He's joined in the program's secondary class by cornerback Kyle Bynes and safety D'Kwan Thomas, while defensive tackle Cory Simon arrives as a high-upside prospect. Within a deep wide receiver class, three-star Ben Whitver marks an intriguing addition with Power 4 measurables at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: When Cignetti left to take over at Indiana after the 2023 season, he and his coaches took 13 players with them to Bloomington, many of whom became program leaders and All-Big Ten performers. How many Dukes will choose to move across the country to UCLA with Chesney? Alonza Barnett III, Wayne Knight, Sahir West and the rest of their top returning players have big decisions to make now, and Napier will do what he can to hold this roster together before shifting his focus to reloading in the portal. The combination of graduating seniors and potential portal defections in January likely means JMU's starting lineup will feature lots of new faces to open the 2026 season, but Chesney's tenure proved this program can quickly recover from a coaching transition and get right back to Sun Belt contender status. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: James Madison has played 40 games in three years at the FBS level, so there's a certain level of expectation that the dominance will continue. Expectations can be dangerous, however. On its third coach in five years, maintaining high standards can be tough. With so much success, bigger schools are waiting to pick off the best talent, as is life in the Group of Five these days. But even on top of all that, so much continuous winning can breed a level of apathy when the locker room is also changing rapidly -- with new players arriving and expecting the same results without fully appreciating what went into achieving that historic success. Just in the Sun Belt, App State, Coastal Carolina and Napier's former team, Louisiana, have all had their stretches at the top, but tumbled back to earth. Reenergizing JMU after reaching what feels like a new mountaintop in 2025 will be a critical job for Napier in Year 1 on the job. -- Hale

2026 prediction: JMU's 2026 schedule looks inviting. The Dukes get a Liberty team that has been down as of late, a UConn team in the first year with a new coach and a Virginia Tech team that will just be getting its sea legs under James Franklin. Run the table out of conference, and this year showed the door is wide open for a playoff berth. The Sun Belt isn't likely to struggle in 2026 quite as much as it did in 2025, but JMU still seems to be the clear front-runner. To aim for a second straight playoff bid is reasonable, even if realistic expectations should focus on winning the Sun Belt again and hoping the other dominoes fall into place from there. -- Hale

Tulane Green Wave

2025 record: 11-3

Biggest question moving forward: Tulane has handled challenging coaching transitions before, going from longtime boss Willie Fritz to Jon Sumrall without any significant backslide. But Sumrall leaves a significant void as he leaves to become the head coach at Florida, and though promoting Will Hall as his successor creates some immediate stability, Hall will have to reprove himself as a program leader after a very rough end to his tenure at Southern Miss. The expectations have changed at Tulane, which is 33-13 since the start of the 2022 season. The program is set up not to revert to its pre-Fritz struggles. But the American Conference will remain a challenge, especially with significant investments at programs such as South Florida and Memphis. Similar to a lot of Group of 5 CFP teams, Tulane will lose a lot, both to graduation and the portal, and Hall and his staff will need to identify a new quarterback, replenish the offensive line and replace key defenders such as Santana Hopper and Sam Howard. -- Adam Rittenberg

Recruiting outlook: The Green Wave's 2026 class faded late, with five decommitments after Nov. 18 amid coach Jon Sumrall's departure for Florida, headlined by the exit of four-star wide receiver Trez Davis. Still, Tulane is set to add some intriguing talent in 2026. In three-star signee A.J. Westfield, the program has its highest-ranked defensive tackle since the Green Wave landed defensive tackle Alfred Thomas and Jeffery Johnson in the 2018 class. Offensive tackle Aiden Martin and guards Tylan George and Andre Amos Jr. will provide reinforcement on the other side of the line of scrimmage. And in the skill positions, first-year coach Will Hall will have three exciting newcomers to work with -- wide receivers Keyshaun Coleman and Gary Hadley Jr. and tight end Colby Simpson. -- Eli Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Like any Group of 5 program going through a head coaching transition, Tulane will likely have a lot of work to do when the transfer portal opens Jan. 2. We'll see how much roster attrition newly promoted coach Will Hall and his staff endure now that the season is over and players have Power 4 opportunities to consider. The Green Wave lost a dozen transfers to P4 programs last offseason, and all-conference defensive lineman Hopper has already announced he plans to enter the portal next month. Players who have a chance to go to Florida will have a tough time turning down those lucrative offers. There are also a bunch of freshmen on this roster who played big roles in 2025, including Jamauri McClure, Javin Gordon, Reese Baker, E'zaiah Shine and Zycarl Lewis Jr. If the new staff retains some players over these next few weeks, that'd be a good place to start. -- Max Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: The defensive line will be an area to watch, with Hopper already heading out and others possibly to follow, but Tulane also must fortify its depth on the offensive line. First-team all-conference guard Shadre Hurst would be a massive retention, but if he moves on, along with seniors Derrick Graham, Jack Hollifield and Jordan Hall, Tulane will have to devote a lot of energy toward building around its lone returning starter, right tackle Reese Baker. Hall and Hollifield were valuable additions in last year's portal, and Tulane should be an attractive destination for transfers with the offensive system likely not changing too much under Will Hall. -- Rittenberg

2026 prediction: The Hall hire will be closely scrutinized, as Tulane prioritized continuity over candidates with more appealing credentials. Hall knows the place well after two stints as a Green Wave assistant, and he had success as a head coach earlier in his career at West Alabama and West Georgia, before the struggles at Southern Miss (14-30). Tulane's 2026 schedule features nonleague road trips to Duke (former Tulane QB Darian Mensah is back to lead the Blue Devils) and Kansas State, as well as conference games at Army and South Florida. Given the turnover with the coaching staff and roster, Tulane is probably a seven- or eight-win team. -- Rittenberg

Texas A&M Aggies

2025 record: 11-2

Biggest question moving forward: Mike Elko loses both coordinators, with OC Collin Klein heading to his alma mater to be the head coach at Kansas State and DC Jay Bateman joining new Kentucky coach Will Stein to run the defense. Elko has opted for continuity in both roles, promoting co-OC and wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins to take over playcalling duties and elevating Lyle Hemphill, Elko's associate head coach for defense, to DC. Hemphill has worked with Elko since his days at Hofstra in 2006, and also served as his defensive coordinator at Duke, rejoining his staff earlier this year. Wiggins, however, is more of an unknown since this will be his first role as the coordinator. But his impact on A&M's offense over the past two years is evident in the receivers he has identified and developed, from the additions of Mario Craver and KC Concepcion to the development of Ashton Bethel-Roman. -- Dave Wilson

Recruiting outlook: The Aggies stocked up on elite defenders for another cycle on their way to landing the nation's No. 6 class. The headliner is five-star athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 18 overall), a star sprinter from San Diego who is expected to play cornerback and could contribute on special teams from the jump. Arrington will be joined by another pair of top 100 cornerbacks in Victor Singleton (No. 56) and Camren Hamiel (No. 85) in a Texas A&M class filled with nine ESPN 300 defenders. The Aggies beat in-state rivals to an intriguing running back prospect over the summer in four-star rusher K.J. Edwards (No. 50). And Mike Elko is already rolling in the 2027 cycle, too, entering the offseason already holding onto pledges from seven members of the ESPN Junior 300, led by No. 3 dual-threat quarterback Jayce Johnson and a trio of top 70 defensive backs between JayQuan Snell, Kamarui Dorsey and Raylaun Henry. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Texas A&M has done an excellent job of evaluating talent in portal recruiting under Elko and finding players who fit. Last year, the glaring need was wide receiver, and the duo of Concepcion and Craver far exceeded expectations. This time around, the focus probably starts up front. Expect the Aggies to be in the mix for the top offensive tackles available as they try to find an SEC-caliber big man to take over for four-year starter Trey Zuhn III and two-year starter Dametrious Crownover. They'll likely look into blue-chip defensive linemen as well to keep building on what this D-line achieved in 2025, and a linebacker could be needed as well if Taurean York goes pro. Craver has already re-signed to return in 2026, but there will be many more difference-makers available at wide receiver when the portal opens on Jan. 2. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: The Aggies were just 15 of 24 on field goal attempts this season, including getting a 22-yarder blocked by Jared Zirkel, who began the year as a kickoff specialist, against Miami, in a game where every point mattered. Randy Bond, the Aggies' starting kicker, was 12-of-19 this season. The Aggies signed kicker Asher Murray out of Shreveport, Louisiana, who was 18-of-22, with a career long of 56 yards in his high school career. Elko said during his signing day news conference that Murray has a chance to be a weapon for the Aggies. -- Wilson

2026 prediction: Quarterback Marcel Reed returns, but after a season in which he showcased his development, he also struggled down the stretch against South Carolina (until he played brilliantly in the second half), Texas and Miami. He'll need to find another gear if the Aggies hope to repeat their historic 2025 season. Another 11-1 regular season looks difficult with a regular season that ends with a five-game slate that includes trips to Alabama, South Carolina and Oklahoma and home games against Tennessee and Texas. A 9-3 season looks to be challenging but also a success in the SEC's new nine-game lineup. -- Wilson

Oklahoma Sooners

2025 record: 10-3

Biggest question moving forward: Oklahoma made important investments in its offense after the 2024 season, adding quarterback John Mateer and coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State, wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III from Arkansas and other reinforcements. The Sooners now need to see the unit take a sustained step forward, or advancing in the CFP will become increasingly difficult. The offense was extremely limited during OU's stretch run, even in wins against Alabama, Missouri and LSU. If not for superb defense and special teams, OU would have missed the CFP for a fifth consecutive season. Arbuckle will get another chance to truly upgrade the unit, and if Mateer returns rather than entering the NFL draft, the Sooners will have some beneficial continuity. OU's offense has been hit hard by injuries in recent years, and getting Mateer healthy along with the running back room gives the unit a chance for a true breakthrough in 2026. The Sooners need to get their run game out of the 100s and ideally into the top 35 next season. -- Rittenberg

Recruiting outlook: The Sooners enter the offseason prepared to add ESPN's 16th-ranked recruiting class in 2026. The gem of coach Brent Venables' latest class is five-star defensive end Jake Kreul (No. 25 overall), a technically-advanced edge rusher from Florida and Oklahoma's fifth five-star signee over the past four cycles. The Sooners secured a pair of intriguing offensive additions just before the early signing period between No. 5 running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. (No. 71) and four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit (No. 178). Bowe Bentley, ESPN's No. 2 dual-threat passer, was a priority target for Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and he should be viewed as a potential quarterback for the Sooners when he joins the program in January. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Assuming Mateer bypasses the NFL draft and returns in 2026, it'll be interesting to see how general manager Jim Nagy and the Sooners attack this upcoming January portal cycle to surround their QB1 with more premium help on offense. Expect the Sooners to go out and get proven starters at tight end and wide receiver to complement their returning playmakers and help Arbuckle's offense take the next step in his second year. Linebackers could potentially emerge as a major need for Venables' defense if Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie enter the draft and if Owen Heinecke can't get an NCAA waiver for an extra year. Sammy Omosigho will need to step up if starters depart at that spot, but he will certainly need more help. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Oklahoma should bring back a chunk of its depth chart on offense for 2026, but the Sooners -- just like any contending team -- could always use more experience on the line. The team will lose second-team All-SEC guard Febechi Nwaiwu and veteran right tackle Derek Simmons, and it needs to invest around returning players such as Michael Fasusi, who started all but three games at left tackle as a freshman. The Sooners also need playmakers for Mateer, as wide receiver Deion Burks and tight end Jaren Kanak move on and Sategna, a fourth-year junior, is a candidate to leave for the NFL draft. -- Rittenberg

2026 prediction: Oklahoma was far from dominant -- the Sooners won four SEC games by seven points or fewer -- but showed it could hold up in a challenging SEC schedule and earn a CFP spot, albeit short-lived. The personnel picture should continue to improve in Norman, and Oklahoma should bring back enough to be in the CFP mix again. There are some significant questions about an offense that stalled out too often, though, and will be challenged early next season with Georgia (road), Texas (neutral) and Michigan (road) all within the first five games. The middle portion of the schedule softens a bit before Oklahoma closes with two CFP teams, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, in Norman and a trip to Missouri. Another 10-win season is possible, but I'll say 9-3 for Oklahoma and very much on the CFP bubble. -- Rittenberg