The season may have just wrapped up, but it’s never too early to look ahead. With rosters still in flux and plenty of movement coming via the portal and recruiting, this is far from a finished product. Still, that won’t stop us from having some fun. Here is my way-too-early Top 25 ranking for the 2026 college football season.
1. Indiana Hoosiers
Curt Cignetti has cemented himself as one of the top coaches in the sport, though building a roster through the portal every year will always invite skepticism. Indiana once again dipped into the portal for a quarterback, which can be hit-or-miss, but I think they hit with Josh Hoover. At this point, I’m done doubting Indiana as long as Cignetti is on the sideline. They’re the team to beat heading into next season.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
2025 was supposed to be a “retooling” year, but it didn’t look like it for most of the season. After losing key pieces on defense, at quarterback, and across the running back room, regression seemed inevitable. Instead, Julian Sayin went to New York, Bo Jackson emerged as a standout freshman, and Jeremiah Smith delivered another big year with one season left before the NFL. Most impressively, the defense took a step forward under Matt Patricia. They’ll need to replace Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs, but Ohio State has rarely struggled to reload talent.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Mario Cristobal finally broke through with a College Football Playoff appearance and even competed for a national championship, another step toward restoring Miami’s national stature. The offense has long been strong, and there’s little reason to expect that to change. Retaining both coordinators is huge, and Corey Heatherman deserves serious credit for transforming a dreadful defense into one of the most feared units in the country in just one season.
4. Oregon Ducks
Dan Lanning continues to build Oregon the right way, improving the roster year after year. The Ducks have talent across the board, and with quarterback Dante Moore returning and super-stud recent transfer Dylan Raiola waiting in the wings, they remain firmly in the hunt for the program’s first national championship. There’s no reason to believe this upward trajectory slows anytime soon.
5. Texas Longhorns
Arch Manning didn’t quite live up to the hype last season, but he played better than he’s often given credit for. Offensive line play was an issue, though that unit should take a step forward. The receiving room underwhelmed at times, but the addition of Cam Coleman helps address that. The defense should remain elite, putting the pressure on the offense to take the next step.
6. Georgia Bulldogs
Like Ohio State, Georgia was expected to experience some growing pains, but Gunner Stockton played extremely well and the defense found its stride late in the year. Much of that defense returns in 2026, along with a strong recruiting class that continues to reinforce Georgia’s depth and talent base.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Despite a chaotic finish to the season, Notre Dame closed the year with 10 straight wins. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are off to the draft, but the running back room remains deep. CJ Carr was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in college football last season and should continue to improve, especially with young receiving talent like Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter Jr. This feels like more than just a playoff team, Notre Dame looks capable of a deep run.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech showed exactly what a strong NIL commitment can do for a program. They surged to the top of the Big 12 and into playoff contention behind a transfer-heavy defense. That approach continued this offseason, highlighted by the addition of the No. 1 rated transfer portal QB Brendan Sorsby from Cincinnati. There’s no reason to believe this was a one-year spike.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
This ranking is largely rooted in belief. Incoming five-star quarterback Keelon Russell looks like the next star in college football, and while the receiving room will take a step back, the young pieces are encouraging. The run game was Alabama’s biggest issue in 2025 and needs to improve significantly. If it does, the Tide will once again be a dangerous team.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma’s defense was good enough to compete for a title last season, but the offense lagged behind. A full offseason to get QB John Mateer healthy and establish a more consistent run game should elevate the offense significantly. At minimum, playoff contention should be the expectation.
11. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies didn’t quite reach their ceiling, but Year Two under Mike Elko showed real progress. A dominant defensive front carried them close to an SEC Championship appearance once again. Another year of development for Marcel Reed could be the difference.
12. LSU Tigers
“Disappointment” pretty much sums up the past few years for LSU. With Lane Kiffin now in charge, a cultural shift feels imminent. Offensive inconsistency has plagued this program, but Kiffin’s track record inspires confidence. Retaining Blake Baker to run the defense keeps one of the SEC’s best units intact, offering hope for a quicker return to prominence.
13. USC Trojans
USC’s climb has been gradual since Caleb Williams left, but Jayden Maiava’s return makes them dangerous. The Trojans landed the top recruiting class, reinforcing belief in the program’s direction. Defensive improvement was noticeable last season, and the offense leaned more effectively on the run game. Losing D’Anton Lynn stings, but USC remains on solid footing.
14. Michigan Wolverines
Sherrone Moore wasn’t the coach to take Michigan back to the top, but landing Kyle Whittingham feels like a home run. His history of elite offensive line play and strong run games should translate immediately. With Bryce Underwood in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s ceiling is as high as anyone’s.
15. Ole Miss Rebels
Pete Golding proved to be a strong hire in the short term, winning two playoff games and retaining much of the talent that helped Ole Miss reach new heights last season. The NCAA initially denied Trinidad Chambliss’ request for a sixth year of eligibility, but that decision is being appealed, and many expect he will be cleared to return and start at quarterback in 2026. Kewan Lacy also announced his return a few weeks ago, which gives me confidence that the offense won’t regress too much under a new offensive staff. As long as the weapons around them hold up, Ole Miss should be capable of getting back to where they were last season.
16. BYU Cougars
Bear Bachmeier emerged as one of the nation’s top freshmen last season, and he’ll be around for a while. BYU will lose some offensive production, but the offseason additions inspire confidence. The Cougars look capable of staying near the top of the Big 12.
17. Tennessee Volunteers
Josh Heupel once again maximized quarterback play, with Joey Aguilar leading the SEC in passing yards. Similar to the Chambliss situation, Aguilar is also seeking another year of eligibility from the NCAA, so there’s a possibility he returns. Even if he doesn’t, there is enough offensive talent in place for this team to contend again and remain in the Top 20. The season exceeded expectations overall, but if Tennessee wants to take the next step, I’d like to see more improvement on the defensive side of the ball, as that unit will need to carry more weight next year.
18. SMU Mustangs
Since joining the ACC, SMU has made the playoff once and narrowly missed the conference title game the following year. Rhett Lashlee continues to build momentum, and QB Kevin Jennings’ return provides stability under center. This program feels firmly established and will be a favorite to win the ACC.
19. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State’s season was a disappointment, to say the least, but a late surge provides some optimism. Matt Campbell’s arrival signals a program reset. While the recruiting losses are concerning, the transfer class ranks in the top five and should be strong enough to keep Penn State in the mix.
20. Arizona State Sun Devils
Despite losing Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State retains Kenny Dillingham, one of the best young coaches in the sport. Transfer quarterback Cutter Boley should help soften the blow of losing Leavitt, and with that position stabilized, there’s still plenty of reason for confidence.
21. Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa continues to defy expectations year after year. The offense still won’t wow anyone, but Kirk Ferentz-led defenses remain elite, and that formula keeps the Hawkeyes relevant.
22. Vanderbilt Commodores
Losing Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers hurts, but landing the No. 1–rated quarterback recruit in the nation, Jared Curtis, signals a serious investment. Clark Lea’s commitment to building Vanderbilt the right way is evident, and increased spending should start to pay dividends. The Commodores are no longer the SEC doormat, and while they may not make the CFP next season, finishing in the top half of the league seems realistic.
23. Missouri Tigers
Missouri brings back one of the nation’s best running backs in Ahmad Hardy and upgrades at quarterback with Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons. With defensive coordinator Corey Batoon still leading what was a top-10 defense last year, this team feels primed for another step forward.
24. Washington Huskies
Keeping Demond Williams Jr. was no small feat, and his presence alone is a game-changer. Losing talent to the NFL always stings, but Jedd Fisch has already proven he can rebuild quickly, as he did at Arizona. Washington, just two years removed from a national title appearance, is trending back toward the CFPconversation in 2026 and should finish comfortably inside the top 25.
25. Houston Cougars
Willie Fritz knows how to win. That alone earns Houston a spot in the Top 25. After a 10–3 season and a top-10 transfer class, the future looks bright.
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