Photo Credit: Facebook
0
0
The 2026 college football season arrives with plenty of championship contenders. However, seven teams stand above the rest of the preseason field. Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana and Miami lead that group. Each team received at least one first-place vote. The Associated Press ranked Ohio State first and Oregon second. Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas followed behind them. Indiana entered sixth after winning last season’s national championship. Miami rounded out the top seven. Still, every contender has questions that could shape its season. Here are the biggest questions facing each team.
Ohio State: Can the Buckeyes survive their schedule?
Ohio State enters the season with tremendous talent across the roster. Quarterback Julian Sayin returns after an impressive 2025 season. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith also returns for another massive campaign. Running back Bo Jackson adds another explosive weapon to the offense. He rushed for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. However, Ohio State faces one of the nation’s toughest schedules. The Buckeyes visit Texas on Sept. 12. They also face Indiana, USC, Oregon and Michigan later. That stretch could determine Ohio State’s playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the defense must replace eight starters from last season. Ohio State added several transfers to help fill those gaps. The biggest question remains simple. Can the Buckeyes navigate their brutal schedule without losing momentum?
Oregon: Can the new coordinators keep the Ducks rolling?
Oregon enters 2026 with legitimate championship expectations. The Ducks finished 26-3 across the past two seasons. Quarterback Dante Moore also returned for another season. That gives Dan Lanning a strong foundation. The defense also brings back several important pieces. Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti headline that group. However, Oregon changed both coordinators during the offseason. Will Stein left Oregon to become Kentucky’s head coach. Tosh Lupoi also departed for Cal. Drew Mehringer now leads the offense. Chris Hampton takes over the defense. Therefore, Oregon faces a major transition without much room for error. Can the new coordinators maintain the Ducks’ elite standard? If they can, Oregon could challenge for its first national championship.
Georgia: Who will replace the lost production?
Georgia enters the season with another loaded roster. The Bulldogs have won consecutive SEC championships. They also remain among the nation’s most consistent programs. Quarterback Gunner Stockton gives Kirby Smart an experienced option. The defense also features several preseason All-SEC selections. Safety KJ Bolden and cornerback Ellis Robinson IV lead that group. Yet Georgia faces a major problem at receiver. London Humphreys and tight end Lawson Luckie return as the team’s leading pass catchers. However, they combined for only 33 receptions last season. That number creates an obvious concern. Someone must emerge as a dependable target for Stockton. Georgia also faces road games against Alabama and Ole Miss. Therefore, the Bulldogs cannot afford offensive inconsistency. Can Georgia develop enough receiving production to support its quarterback?
Notre Dame: Can the Irish replace their top running backs?
Notre Dame enters 2026 with plenty of motivation. The Fighting Irish missed the College Football Playoff last season. They also enter this season with a 10-game winning streak. Quarterback CJ Carr gives Notre Dame another potential star. The offensive line should also provide plenty of support. However, Notre Dame lost two important running backs. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price both left after productive seasons. Aneyas Williams now enters the spotlight after limited production last year. Williams recorded 224 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season. Notre Dame needs more production from its backfield. The Irish cannot rely entirely on Carr and their defense. Can Williams and the other backs replace that lost production? That answer could determine Notre Dame’s playoff ceiling.
Texas: Can the offensive line protect Arch Manning?
Texas might have its most talented roster in years. Arch Manning enters the season as one of the nation’s biggest stars. The Longhorns also added several talented players through the transfer portal. Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown strengthen the offense. Manning brings another dangerous element as a runner. He led Texas with 10 rushing touchdowns last season. However, the offensive line creates the biggest concern. Preseason All-American tackle Trevor Goosby suffered a bone bruise during training camp. Texas cannot afford major protection problems. Manning will face talented defenses throughout the season. Therefore, the Longhorns need their offensive line to stay healthy. Can Texas protect Manning well enough for him to reach his potential?
Indiana: Can Josh Hoover keep the magic alive?
Indiana enters 2026 with an enormous target on its back. The Hoosiers completed a historic 16-0 season last year. They also won the national championship for the first time. However, Indiana lost quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the NFL. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy before becoming the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick. Now Josh Hoover takes over at quarterback. Hoover transferred from TCU and inherited tremendous expectations. Indiana also returns plenty of defensive talent. Four returning defenders recorded at least 10 tackles for loss last season. Still, replacing Mendoza creates the biggest question. Can Hoover deliver another elite season at quarterback? If he succeeds, Indiana could make another championship run.
Miami: Can the Hurricanes replace their pass rush?
Miami enters the season with serious championship potential. The Hurricanes reached the national championship game last season. Now they want to take the final step. Quarterback Darian Mensah gives Miami another major weapon. Mensah transferred from Duke after leading the ACC with 3,973 passing yards. He also threw 34 touchdowns and six interceptions. Miami also returns playmakers like Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. However, the defense faces a major challenge. Miami lost Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. Those two players combined for 22 sacks during the 2025 season. Replacing that production will not prove easy. The Hurricanes need new pass rushers to emerge quickly. Can Miami pressure opposing quarterbacks without its two defensive stars? If the answer is yes, Miami could return to the championship game.
The Bottom Line
These seven teams enter 2026 with legitimate championship aspirations. Ohio State has the talent but faces a difficult schedule. Oregon has stability at quarterback but new coordinators. Georgia has an elite defense but needs more receiving production. Notre Dame must replace two important running backs. Texas needs its offensive line to protect Manning. Indiana must prove it can win without Mendoza. Miami needs new stars to replace its lost pass-rush production. Ultimately, those questions could separate the contenders from the champions. The College Football Playoff creates room for mistakes during the regular season. However, championship teams still need answers when the biggest games arrive. That makes the 2026 season especially fascinating. Seven teams have championship dreams. Only one will finish the season holding the trophy.
Author Profile
-
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.
Latest entries
FootballSeptember 5, 20267 CFP Contenders, 7 Big Questions for 2026
BaseballSeptember 5, 2026Tampa Baseball: Three-Time Champs with Another Loaded Recruiting Class
GolfSeptember 5, 20262026 Presidents Cup: Meet the International Team
FootballSeptember 5, 202613 NFL Cuts Who Could Make an Impact with a New Team
About the Author
