Indiana defeated Miami (FL) only a few days ago on January 19, 2026, but it’s never a bad time to look ahead at what’s next. Here’s a way-too-early look at the top 25 teams for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
1. Ohio State | Last year\u2019s finish: 12-2 (CFP quarterfinalist)<\/p>\n
Ohio State has the nation\u2019s top QB-RB-WR trio. Quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith should all be among the best in the country this year. Sayin was a Heisman finalist, Jackson should be preseason First-Team All-Big Ten and Smith might be the first wide receiver to go No. 1 overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.<\/p>\n
Four of five offensive line starters return, as does wideout Brandon Innis in the slot. Add one of the top high school wide receiver recruits in recent memory, Chris Henry Jr. The offense shouldn\u2019t miss a beat, even with the third offensive coordinator in three years in Columbus after Arthur Smith comes in from the NFL.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the defense that creates any hesitation about the Buckeyes grabbing the top spot. After playing at an all-time level for most of 2025, Ohio State will lose potentially four first-rounders from its defense. Safety Caleb Down, linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald will all be gone. So will edge Caden Curry and cornerback Davison Igbinosun.<\/p>\n
The cupboard isn\u2019t bare, as defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will have his secondary replacements in transfers Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke) coming in. Little will slot in nicely at nickel, while Moore will take Downs\u2019 safety role after missing last season with an ACL injury. With former five-star Devin Sanchez returning, the secondary should be fine if healthy.<\/p>\n
In the front-seven he Buckeyes kept edge Kenyatta Jackson while adding Alabama transfer Qua Russaw to a group that includes Zion Grady and Beau Atkinson. The biggest question is in the middle of the defense. Replacing McDonald, Reese and Styles won\u2019t be easy after how great they were last season. Ohio State has players with talent to do so, and after seeing how Matt Patricia did last year, that talent should turn into production.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: When does the 2026 college football season start?<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Oregon | Last year\u2019s finish: 13-2 (CFP semifinalist)<\/p>\n Oregon lost both its offensive and defensive coordinators this offseason. That keeps the Ducks out of the top spot, even with potential top-two NFL draft pick Dante Moore returning to school. Moore proved his worth last year, but he\u2019ll have to learn his third offense in as many years as a starter this fall. He\u2019s capable of doing so, but remember, last year\u2019s success came after Moore sat out a year after transferring. He won\u2019t have that benefit in 2026.<\/p>\n Coordinators aside, Moore\u2019s return should still have fans in Eugene high on the outlook of Oregon this fall. The offensive line loses some pieces, but the offensive skill group returns two freshman running backs that combined for 20 touchdowns, tight end Jamari Johnson, who pushed a projected first-round talent for reps, and Freshman All-American Dakorien Moore at wide receiver. Plus, wide receiver Evan Stewart returns from injury.<\/p>\n Defensively, the entire defensive line returns, including Matayo Uiagalelei. A strong front four will ease the pains of the loss of Bryce Boettcher. The secondary lost Dillon Thieneman at safety, but incoming transfer Koi Perich from Minnesota is more talented than him. The rest of the secondary will also gain a year of experience as Brandon Finney Jr., Na\u2019eem Offord and more were all highly-touted recruits that got playing time last year.<\/p>\n As long as the new coordinators don\u2019t misuse the talent, Oregon should make the College Football Playoff again.<\/p>\n 3. Notre Dame | Last year\u2019s finish: 10-2 (Bowl game opt-out)<\/p>\n The Fighting Irish missed the College Football Playoff last year, but should be projected by all to make the field in 2026. Notre Dame has the nation’s best defensive player in cornerback Leonard Moore, and left tackle Anthonie Knapp has first-round potential on the offensive line<\/p>\n Yet, Head coach Marcus Freeman won\u2019t just have those guys after some great additions in the transfer portal. Notre Dame got a boost in the trenches, too, with edge Keon Keeley joining from Alabama and Tionne Gray and Francis Brewu joining from Oregon and Pitt.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cornerback DJ McKinney enters from Colorado, just two years removed from playing across from a Heisman trophy-winning corner in Travis Hunter. Moore might\u2019ve been better in coverage than Hunter was in 2024 \u2014 and that was during his true freshman season. McKinney had his best collegiate season playing across from Hunter, and now he\u2019ll be arguably the nation\u2019s top No. 2 corner in 2025.<\/p>\n McKinney\u2019s addition also bumps starting cornerback Christian Gray likely to the slot; McKinney has primarily played outside during his career thanks to his long, six-foot-two frame. The trio of Gray, McKinney and Moore gives the Fighting Irish the potential for the best lockdown trio in the country to pair with a front-seven that has linebackers Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Drayk Bowen.\u00a0<\/p>\n On offense, quarterback CJ Carr should improve in his second year as a starter. He\u2019ll have the additions of transfer wide receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham from Ohio State to help him. They\u2019ll join last year\u2019s leading receiver Jordan Faison, who could blossom into further stardom after stepping away from lacrosse to solely focus on football. Jaden Greathouse will also be back after an injury.<\/p>\n However, Carr won\u2019t have running backs Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price to lean on. I think Carr will do just fine without his backs, as the emphasis on adding wideouts from the portal project has Carr being the focal point of the new offense. But the slight question mark of Carr taking that next step keeps the Fighting Irish from grabbing the top spot.<\/p>\n 4. Texas | Last year\u2019s finish: 10-3 (Citrus Bowl winner)<\/p>\n Texas was my way-too-early No. 1 team in 2025<\/a>. The Longhorns missed the playoffs in 2025. I might\u2019ve been a year too early because I think 2026 is the year Texas lives up to the hype.<\/p>\n Quarterback Arch Manning is back in Austin. Manning bounced back from a rocky start to the season with a strong finish in November, beyond struggling against Georgia. He should be able to avoid a slow start this year, even while undergoing a surprise minor foot surgery in January. That means Texas will have a quarterback ready for the big-time moments that an SEC schedule will create.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, Manning won\u2019t be alone. Texas added the top transfer portal receiver available in Cam Coleman from Auburn. The Longhorns also grabbed explosive running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown from NC State to join a skill group that already included Ryan Wingo. The offensive line has some question marks outside of elite offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, but the speed and elusiveness of the new running backs and the mobility of Manning offset those concerns for the most part.<\/p>\n The defense will have a new look under Will Muschamp as coordinator. Muschamp won national championships in 2003 at LSU and in 2022 at Georgia. That\u2019s a good sign for the Longhorn faithful who are familiar with his stint at Texas from 2008 to 2010.<\/p>\n Muschamp gets to use the best front-seven player in the country, Colin Simmons, as he enters his third year as a dominant pass rusher. Transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles comes in from Pitt and should be on some preseason All-American lists as he replaces Anthony Hill Jr. While the secondary loses three starters to the NFL, there\u2019s young talent like Kobe Black, Jonah Williams and others that got some experience in the Citrus Bowl. Rutgers cornerback Bo Mascoe also transfers in after starting for the Scarlet Knights last year.<\/p>\n With Steve Sarkisian calling the offense and Muschamp calling the defense, Texas should be one of the top teams in the SEC yet again this year.<\/p>\n TRANSFERS:\u00a0FCS transfers who could impact next year’s College Football Playoff race<\/a><\/p>\n 5. Georgia | Last year\u2019s finish: 12-2 (CFP quarterfinalist)<\/p>\n Kirby Smart returns his starting quarterback in 2026. The last two years (2022 and 2024) that that\u2019s happened, Georgia made the College Football Playoff. Smart has Gunnar Stockton returning this fall, and the Bulldogs will be one of the top teams in the nation yet again.<\/p>\n Stockton had some hot-and-cold moments in his first year as a starter, but as the season progressed, he looked more comfortable in the offense and used his legs as a runner. Year two of the Stockon era should show improvement.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019ll help that running backs Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens return to ease some pressure off of Stockton. Yet, the biggest question on the offense will surround the development of the young players. The receiving core is notably young after losing five of its top six receivers. Only London Humphreys remains. The left side of the offensive line is gone to the NFL. Georgia always reloads; this year will be no different.<\/p>\n The defense will have to improve up front, especially when it comes to making plays in the backfield and getting pressure. However, the back end of the defense is still strong with the best safety in the country, KJ Bolden. Cornerback Ellis Robinson IV is back after a standout redshirt freshman campaign, while Smart added players like Gentry Williams (Oklahoma), Khalil Barnes (Clemson), Ja\u2019Marley Riddle (East Carolina) and Braylon Conley (USC) to bolster the secondary. As linebackers Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole step up to replace CJ Allen, Georgia\u2019s defense should rank in the top half of the SEC yet again.<\/p>\n Kirby Smart will have to get his team up to speed, but the Bulldogs should be in the SEC title conversation in November.<\/p>\n 6. Indiana | Last year\u2019s finish: 16-0 (National Champion)<\/p>\n Is Josh Hoover more like Kurtis Rourke or Fernando Mendoza? Both are quarterbacks who led Indiana to the College Football Playoff, but one led the Hoosiers to a national championship. That question mark at quarterback keeps the defending national champions out of the top five.<\/p>\n I think Hoover ends up being somewhere in between Rourke and Mendoza as head coach Curt Cignetti has shown his ability to develop one-year transfer quarterbacks since taking the job at IU. It\u2019s Cignetti\u2019s other transfers that keep the Hoosiers in good shape to defend their title.<\/p>\n Cornerback D\u2019Angelo Ponds gets replaced by A.J. Harris (Penn State) and Carson Williams (Montana State). Wide receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. get replaced by Nick Marsh (Michigan State) and Shazz Preston (Tulane). Running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black get replaced by Turbo Richard (Boston College). Edge Mikail Kamara gets replaced by Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State). Rose Bowl MVP center Pat Coogan gets replaced by Joe Brunner (Wisconsin).<\/p>\n That\u2019s a good way to restock after national championship success. The only place where Cignetti hasn\u2019t grabbed a plug-and-play guy is at offensive tackle. That\u2019s because consensus All-American Carter Smith chose to return to play for the Hoosiers for one more season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Indiana isn\u2019t going anywhere and should have CFP expectations again in 2026.<\/p>\n CHAMPS: How Indiana won its first-ever college football national championship<\/a><\/p>\n 7. LSU | Last year\u2019s finish: 7-6 (Texas Bowl loser)<\/p>\n Is this too high for LSU? Maybe. But Lane Kiffin has had winning seasons at every stop. In his first full season at Ole Miss, he won 10 games \u2014 the only third 10-win season of the program\u2019s 21st-century history at the time.<\/p>\n 2026\u2019s LSU team is more talented than Ole Miss was in 2021.<\/p>\n LSU brought in the top transfer portal class and the No. 1 high school recruit in the country, Lamar Brown. Lane Kiffin enters LSU with instant impact starters from the portal in quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, wide receiver Eugene Wilson, linebacker TJ Dottery and safety Ty Benefield, to name a few. All-SEC linebacker White Weeks and tight end Trey\u2019Dez Green are also back in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n Kiffin didn\u2019t just grab transfers; he grabbed proven commodities. Leavitt led Arizona State to a CFP appearance and Big 12 title after all.<\/p>\n We know Kiffin will have his offense putting up elite numbers. The LSU defense kept coordinator Blake Baker after leading LSU to a top-five scoring defense in the SEC and the conference\u2019s leading defense in interceptions. With more talent on the roster, the defense could be even better.<\/p>\n Kiffin left a CFP team to coach at LSU. The Tigers should be a CFP team this year under Kiffin.<\/p>\n 8. Texas A&M | Last year\u2019s finish: 11-2 (CFP first round loss)<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for a dark-horse Heisman contender, look no further than Texas A&M\u2019s Marcel Reed. He\u2019ll need to be more consistent in 2026 as he enters year three as a starter, but his dual-threat capability helps give the Aggies a positive outlook after ending last season on back-to-back losses after an 11-0 start.<\/p>\n Reed will have Mario Craver back on the outside, Le\u2019Veon Moss in the backfield and wide receiver Isaiah Horton comes in from Alabama as KC Concepcion departs. With four offensive line transfers with starting experience joining the offense, Reed has all the tools he needs for a successful season, even with offensive coordinator Collin Klein leaving.<\/p>\n Mike Elko\u2019s defense was fourth in the country in sacks last year, but couldn\u2019t stop the run when it mattered in the last two games. In comes Anto Saka (Northwestern), Angelo McCullom (Illinois) and CJ Mims (North Carolina) to sure up the defensive front. Cornerback Rickey Gibson (Tennessee) and safety Tawfiq Byard (Colorado) also joined the secondary.<\/p>\n Texas A&M might not start 11-0 in 2026, but the Aggies will be very good.<\/p>\n 9. Oklahoma | Last year\u2019s finish: 10-3 (CFP first round loss)<\/p>\n Oklahoma\u2019s success in 2026 depends on the health of quarterback John Mateer. Mateer looked like a Heisman frontrunner before his hand injury in September. He should be back to his September form in 2026, and the offense should be improved in high-stakes moments.<\/p>\n The Sooners got Mateer some nice weapons like Parker Livingstone from rival Texas, Trell Harris from Virginia and Hayden Hansen from Florida. The offensive line returns plenty, too, so the key for Oklahoma will be to run the ball better in 2026 after failing to have a 500-yard rusher.<\/p>\n With Mateer healthy, the offense should pull its weight. We know the defense under head coach Brent Venables will be good \u2014 if not elite \u2014 yet again. The Sooners finished third in sacks last year and return almost the entire secondary this year.<\/p>\n Oklahoma is a dark-horse SEC title contender.<\/p>\n 10. BYU | Last year\u2019s finish: 12-2 (Pop-Tarts Bowl winner)<\/p>\n BYU grabs a top-10 spot thanks to the return of quarterback Bear Bachmeier after his true\u00a0 While BYU lost its defensive coordinator to Michigan, Kalani Sitake has defensive roots, so I\u2019m not too worried there. It was more important that the Cougars retained players like cornerbacks Evan Johnson and Therrian Alexander III. The defense helps BYU remain a well-rounded team entering 2026.<\/p>\n After going 23-4 across the last two seasons, BYU could finally make a CFP appearance.<\/p>\n
freshman season and running back LJ Martin after nearly gaining 1,300 yards on the ground. That duo should benefit from offensive line transfers like Zak Yamauchi (Stanford) and Paki Finau (Washington) as they lead BYU near the top of the Big 12.<\/p>\n