Since the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams in 2024, teams from non-power conferences have been granted guaranteed access to the postseason.
That guaranteed access remains intact in 2026, though the rules have changed yet again on what access looks like.
Keep reading for the most thorough G6 evaluation in college football.
How Does the G6 Playoff Bid Work This Season?
This season, the highest ranked G6 team will be included in the College Football Playoff bracket at the end of the regular season. The highest ranking G6 team does not have to be a conference champion.
The G6 team will be slotted in as the No. 12 seed, unless it’s actually ranked among the top 11 teams by the CFP committee. A top 11 team would be seeded in accordance with its ranking.
In previous seasons, the CFP awarded automatic bids to the five highest ranked conference champions. After some shenanigans involving the ACC in 2025, the committee amended the rules to prevent power conferences from yielding too many bids to non-power teams.
Now that we know how the 2026 bid will be awarded, let’s take a look at which teams are in the best position, according to BetMGM’s updated 2026 College Football Playoff odds.
Current G6 Playoff Odds At BetMGM – Week 8
| G6 Team | 2026 Playoff Odds |
|---|---|
| JMU | +170 |
| Boise State | +180 |
| New Mexico | +500 |
| UTSA | +1200 |
| North Dakota State | +1500 |
| Memphis | +3500 |
G6 Playoff Odds Tracker: Week 8
The big news in the G6 playoff market is JMU’s new status as the most likely team to crack the playoff, overtaking Boise in the CFP market by 10 cents of price.Â
That’s a moderately significant change after JMU was adjusted up to +400 following a close road win at Georgia Southern in Week 6. The Dukes almost certainly have to run the table to make the 2026 CFP, and potential tough games remain at App State (this Thursday!) and beyond.
The other factor affecting Boise State’s playoff path could be Oregon State. The Beavers are increasingly seen as a threat to Boise in the Pac-12 and will likely have two shots against the Broncos, including a potential conference championship bout.
New Mexico has its big showdown with North Dakota State this weekend and will likely get much shorter in price if it wins.Â
UTSA is 12-to-1 right now and would likely need losses from all three of the teams above it to make the playoff, even if the Roadrunners finish 12-1 with a conference championship.
G6 Playoff Bid History
| Year | Team (Seed) | Playoff Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cincinnati (4) | Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6 |
| 2024 | Boise State (3) | Penn State 31, Boise State 14 |
| 2025 | Tulane (11) | Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10 |
| 2025 | JMU (12) | Oregon 51, JMU 34 |
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