This season brings stronger conferences and more matches, making the journey to the national championship even tougher with the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff format.

Achieving an undefeated season seems more challenging than ever. Hence, there isn’t a single team—whether Ohio State, Texas, or Georgia—predicted to finish without a loss according to the YSL News Sports record projections for each Bowl Subdivision conference.

The Bulldogs remain the leading team in the SEC, followed closely by the Longhorns, Alabama, LSU, and Mississippi. For the Big Ten, the Buckeyes and Oregon are favored to take the lead. Utah is positioned as the frontrunner in the newly structured Big 12, while Clemson and Florida State are anticipated to compete fiercely for the ACC title.

Among the Group of Five teams, Memphis is likely to have the strongest claim for a playoff spot. Keep an eye on Liberty from Conference USA and the Sun Belt favorites, Appalachian State and James Madison.

ACC Record Predictions

Clemson’s offensive improvement places them slightly ahead of the Seminoles. Don’t overlook North Carolina State, aiming for its second 10-win season, and an up-and-coming Virginia Tech. Miami and North Carolina possess the talent to potentially exceed our eight-win estimates, but the Hurricanes are known to disappoint occasionally as well. The league welcomes new teams: SMU, California, and Stanford.

Big 12 Record Predictions

This conference has a fresh look with several former Pac-12 teams joining. Utah stands out as the favorite. Kansas State will field a new quarterback, Avery Johnson, but maintains its target of achieving at least eight wins this season. UCF and Kansas follow closely behind, along with Oklahoma State and Iowa State. As for Colorado? Under Deion Sanders, they’re expected to improve but not enough to forecast six wins in our projections.

Big Ten Record Predictions

The Big Ten exhibits great depth within the top seven or eight teams, including a revitalized Nebraska under coach Matt Rhule. At the forefront, Ohio State and Oregon’s competition for the Big Ten championship promises to be one of the season’s highlights. Penn State and Michigan are also contenders, although the defending champions remain somewhat uncertain due to significant changes since January.

SEC Record Predictions

The SEC showcases heavyweights: Georgia, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma and many more. Clearly, it’s the strongest conference in FBS, surpassing even the formidable Big Ten. While Georgia is the top pick, the competition among the elite teams is exceptionally tight. Meanwhile, Texas A&M, under new coach Mike Elko, is expected to return to bowl eligibility, while Auburn looks to revive under Hugh Freeze’s second season and Florida faces challenges reaching six wins in a grueling schedule.

Group of Five American Athletic Record Predictions

Memphis is anticipated to dominate the American, with their only expected loss against Florida State in non-conference play. With an 11-1 record and a conference title, the Tigers would undoubtedly be the leading choice as the Group of Five playoff representative. Texas-San Antonio and Tulane may not look as strong but could secure eight or more victories. The AAC is also expected to have a solid middle tier featuring South Florida, Army, East Carolina, and Florida Atlantic.

Conference USA Record Predictions

Conference USA consists of a mixed bag of teams, with Liberty and Western Kentucky as favorites. The Flames are anticipated to remain undefeated in conference play, although non-conference matches against ECU and Appalachian State will pose challenges. This conference also includes some of the weakest teams in FBS, like Kennesaw State, which is transitioning from the Championship Subdivision and won’t be eligible for the conference title in its first year.

Independents and Pac-12 Record Predictions

With a strong defense, a promising new quarterback in Riley Leonard, and a favorable schedule, Notre Dame is a top contender for the playoffs. The Fighting Irish must start fast in their opener against Texas A&M, with crucial matchups against Louisville, Florida State, and Southern California shaping their season. Oregon State and Washington State will compete this season as Pac-12 teams, but are included here as they will not play a complete conference schedule.

MAC Record Predictions

Toledo and Miami (Ohio) are expected to closely contest for the top position in the MAC. Don’t underestimate Ohio and Bowling Green; the Falcons had a significant breakthrough last year and may improve further in the standings. We anticipate seven MAC teams achieving bowl eligibility, one more than last year.

Mountain West Record Predictions

Boise State was expected to face its biggest challenge for the MWC title from Fresno State, but following coach Jeff Tedford’s recent health-related departure, predicting the Bulldogs to exceed eight wins is now tough. Thus, the Broncos lead the standings, followed closely by last season’s surprises, UNLV. Right behind them are Air Force and Wyoming, with Fresno State and Colorado State following.

Sun Belt Record Predictions

This might be the strongest league among the Group of Five overall. The Sun Belt’s top half is so competitive that the league champion might not have a record strong enough to compete with the AAC winner. Appalachian State, James Madison, and Troy are at the forefront, with the Dukes (Bob Chesney) and Trojans (Gerad Parker) looking to maintain momentum under their new head coaches. We foresee eight teams securing six wins or more, possibly leading the SBC to send at least 10 teams to bowl games for the second consecutive season.