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College football season finally sits on the doorstep. That means preseason rankings now carry plenty of weight. However, they still cannot settle anything on the field. The preseason Coaches’ Poll gives us the clearest starting point. Ohio State claimed No. 1 with 38 first-place votes. Oregon followed at No. 2 with six first-place votes. Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame completed the top five. Still, I would make several changes before kickoff. ESPN’s SP+ model also favors Ohio State and Oregon. Notre Dame, Georgia, and Indiana follow closely behind. With that in mind, here is my projected preseason Top 25.
- Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State earns my No. 1 ranking heading into 2026. The Buckeyes return quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith. Both players give Ohio State elite offensive weapons. The Buckeyes also finished 12-2 last season. However, they lost the Big Ten title game and CFP quarterfinal. Still, their regular-season dominance makes them difficult to overlook.
- Oregon Ducks
Oregon remains my biggest threat to Ohio State. The Ducks return quarterback Dante Moore for another season. They also finished 13-2 during the 2025 campaign. ESPN’s SP+ ranks Oregon second nationally. The model gives Oregon the nation’s top projected offense.
- Texas Longhorns
Texas gets the third spot in my projection. Arch Manning enters another season with massive expectations. The Longhorns also face one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Texas opens against Ohio State in Week 2. That matchup could immediately reshape the national championship picture.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame jumps ahead of Georgia in my rankings. The Irish bring back quarterback C.J. Carr. Carr gives Marcus Freeman an experienced leader behind center. ESPN’s SP+ model ranks Notre Dame third nationally. The Irish also have a favorable projected strength of schedule.
- Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia remains firmly inside my top five. Gunner Stockton returns at quarterback for the Bulldogs. Georgia also expects another strong defensive unit. The Bulldogs finished 12-2 last season. They reached the CFP quarterfinal before Texas Tech ended their run.
- Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana deserves serious respect after its historic 2025 season. The Hoosiers finished 16-0 and won the national championship. However, they lost quarterback Francisco Mendoza to the NFL. TCU transfer Josh Hoover now takes over under center. That change keeps Indiana outside my top five.
- Miami Hurricanes
Miami starts another season with tremendous expectations. The Hurricanes reached the national championship game last season. Indiana eventually ended their title run. Miami remains dangerous because of its recent momentum. The Hurricanes also rank seventh in the Coaches Poll.
- Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M lands at No. 8 after another strong offseason. The Aggies rank eighth in the Coaches Poll as well. Their physical style should keep them competitive throughout the SEC. However, the Aggies must prove themselves against the conference’s elite.
- Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma enters 2026 with legitimate College Football Playoff hopes. The Sooners finished 10-3 last season. They also return quarterback John Matteer. Their defense could become the team’s biggest strength. Oklahoma faces Michigan early in Week 2.
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech earns my final spot inside the top 10. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 last season. They finished 12-2 before losing to Oregon in the CFP. Will Hammond now leads the offense. Texas Tech still owns enough talent to challenge for another conference title.
- Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama falls slightly below Texas Tech in my projection. The Crimson Tide enter unfamiliar preseason territory at No. 11. That marks Alabama’s lowest Coaches Poll preseason ranking since 2008. The biggest question involves the quarterback position. Keelon Russell and Austin Mack continue competing for that job.
- Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss stays inside my top 12 after finishing No. 10. The Rebels have enough offensive talent to make noise nationally. Still, the SEC schedule leaves little room for mistakes.
- LSU Tigers
LSU gets a major boost under Lane Kiffin. Kiffin brings plenty of offensive creativity to Baton Rouge. The Tigers also added quarterback Sam Leavitt. LSU finished only 7-6 last season. However, its offseason additions create plenty of optimism.
- USC Trojans
USC remains one of the biggest wild cards. The Trojans enter the season ranked No. 14 by coaches. Lincoln Riley faces significant pressure to deliver results. USC has enough talent to climb quickly with strong quarterback play.
- Michigan Wolverines
Michigan earns a spot inside my top 15. ESPN’s final preseason SP+ ranking places Michigan 15th. The Wolverines face four teams ranked ahead of them. Those opponents include Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Oklahoma.
- BYU Cougars
BYU enters 2026 ranked No. 15 in the Coaches Poll. I move the Cougars down one spot. Still, BYU deserves respect after its recent progress. The Cougars also give the Big 12 another dangerous contender.
- Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State starts a new chapter under Matt Campbell. Campbell replaced James Franklin after the 2025 season. He also brought several Iowa State players to State College. That roster movement creates legitimate optimism for a turnaround.
- Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee stays at No. 18 in my projection. The Volunteers also hold No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. They have maintained a strong national presence in recent seasons. Now, they need another step forward against SEC competition.
- Washington Huskies
Washington keeps its place at No. 19. Quarterback Demond Williams returns for another season. The Huskies finished 9-4 last year. Their schedule gives them a realistic path toward another strong season.
- Utah Utes
Utah enters the season with plenty of questions. Morgan Scalley takes over after Kyle Whittingham’s departure. Quarterback Devon Dampier returns after a breakout season. Still, Utah lost several important contributors during the offseason.
- Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa lands one spot below Utah in my rankings. The Hawkeyes enter the season ranked No. 22 by coaches. Their defense should keep them competitive. However, offensive consistency remains important for Iowa’s ceiling.
- Clemson Tigers
Clemson drops slightly from its preseason Coaches’ Poll position. The Tigers sit at No. 23 in that ranking. That represents Clemson’s lowest preseason position since 2011. Still, the program has enough talent to outperform that ranking.
- Houston Cougars
Houston makes my Top 25 after a strong 2025 season. The Cougars won 10 games and captured the Texas Bowl. Quarterback Conner Weigman returns for another season. Receiver Amare Thomas also gives Houston a major offensive weapon.
- Missouri Tigers
Missouri narrowly makes my final two spots. The Tigers finished 8-5 last season. Austin Simmons takes over at quarterback after transferring in. Missouri also added several transfers on both sides of the ball.
- Florida Gators
Florida grabs the final spot in my projected Top 25. The Gators finished only 4-8 last season. However, Jon Sumrall takes over as the new head coach. That coaching change creates legitimate optimism in Gainesville.
Teams Just Outside the Top 25
Several teams could quickly crash this ranking. Florida State, Arizona, South Carolina, and Illinois deserve attention. Boise State also remains a dangerous Group of Six contender. Meanwhile, Louisville received 153 votes in the Coaches Poll.
The Bottom Line
Ohio State enters the season as my projected No. 1 team. However, the Buckeyes face immediate pressure against Texas. Oregon could challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten crown. Meanwhile, Indiana must prove it can win without Mendoza. Texas, Notre Dame, and Georgia also have championship-level rosters. The SEC could produce another brutal race for playoff positions. Ultimately, preseason rankings only create expectations. The first few weeks will quickly separate contenders from pretenders. For now, though, Ohio State owns the top spot. The chase for the 2026 national championship starts there.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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