Akron in the playoff? Cal as national champ? What a million CFB simulations tell us

The 2026 college football season is still a ways off, but it's never too early to dive into some fascinating projections. A recent simulation of 1 million possible seasons using SP+ projections yielded some eye-popping results, including the possibility of Akron making a playoff run and Cal emerging as a national champion. For fans of these teams, it's a tantalizing prospect that speaks to the parity and unpredictability of college football.

These simulations matter because they offer a data-driven look at the potential landscape of the upcoming season. By running a large number of simulations, we can get a sense of which teams are likely to be top contenders and which could be sleepers. This is especially important in college football, where a single loss can derail a team's championship hopes. The fact that a team like Akron, which has had its share of struggles in recent years, could potentially make a deep playoff run is a testament to the competitiveness of the sport.

So what to watch next? Keep an eye on how teams develop over the offseason, particularly in terms of recruiting and roster turnover. The teams that make significant strides in these areas could be the ones that ultimately emerge as top contenders. Additionally, be sure to follow preseason rankings and projections, which will offer further insight into how teams are shaping up. As we get closer to kickoff, we'll have a better sense of which teams are for real and which are just simulation anomalies.

Originally reported by espn.com. SportsNewsletter adds analysis for sports & fitness readers.