Way-Too-Early College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top Teams for the Upcoming Season

The college football landscape is ever-changing. With the transfer portal and coaching carousel in full swing, projecting the top teams for the upcoming season is a challenging but exciting task. This article delves into a way-too-early look at the college football rankings, analyzing team strengths, weaknesses, and key additions that could shape the competitive landscape.

The Ever-Shifting Landscape of College Football

The conclusion of the college football season marks not an end, but a transition. Attention shifts from celebrating past victories to anticipating future prospects. College football fans eagerly await to see where their favorite departing players will end up in the NFL, and so the page must turn as we look ahead to the 2026 season. The Indiana Hoosiers completed what may have been unthinkable a few months ago in Miami Gardens, defeating the hometown Hurricanes 27-21 to cap a perfect 16-0 campaign. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti engineered a turnaround that will live in college football lore forever. But in this era of the transfer portal and constant roster churn, the celebration window is short. The 2025 season provided parity and chaos, and the 2026 season promises even more as traditional powers reload and new contenders emerge. Rosters have shifted, coaching staffs have moved, and the "who's who" of the sport looks different today than it did just one month ago. It is time to look ahead at who will contend for the 12-team playoff next winter in this edition of way-too-early college football rankings.

Top Teams to Watch

Here's a breakdown of some of the top teams to watch out for:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes:

Ohio State boasts arguably the nation's top QB-RB-WR trio. Quarterback Julian Sayin, a Heisman finalist, spearheads the offense alongside running back Bo Jackson (expected to be preseason First-Team All-Big Ten) and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith has the potential to be the first wide receiver to go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. 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. While the offense is stacked, questions linger on the defensive side. 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. The cupboard isn’t 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’ safety role after missing last season with an ACL injury. 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’t be easy after how great they were last season.

2. Oregon Ducks:

Oregon's potential hinges on the continued development of quarterback Dante Moore, a potential top-two NFL draft pick. Moore proved his worth last year, but he’ll have to learn his third offense in as many years as a starter this fall. He’s capable of doing so, but remember, last year’s success came after Moore sat out a year after transferring. Coordinators aside, Moore’s 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. 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.

Read also: College Football Preseason

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish:

The Fighting Irish are poised to make a College Football Playoff appearance after missing out last year. Head coach Marcus Freeman won’t just have those guys after some great additions in the transfer portal. Cornerback DJ McKinney enters from Colorado, just two years removed from playing across from a Heisman trophy-winning corner in Travis Hunter. Moore might’ve been better in coverage than Hunter was in 2024 - and that was during his true freshman season. McKinney had his best collegiate season playing across from Hunter, and now he’ll be arguably the nation’s top No. McKinney’s 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. On offense, quarterback CJ Carr should improve in his second year as a starter. He’ll have the additions of transfer wide receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham from Ohio State to help him. They’ll join last year’s leading receiver Jordan Faison, who could blossom into further stardom after stepping away from lacrosse to solely focus on football. However, Carr won’t 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.

4. Texas Longhorns:

Texas, pegged as a potential No. 1 team in 2025, looks to rebound after missing the playoffs. 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. Of course, Manning won’t 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 defense will have a new look under Will Muschamp as coordinator. Muschamp won national championships in 2003 at LSU and in 2022 at Georgia. 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’s young talent like Kobe Black, Jonah Williams and others that got some experience in the Citrus Bowl.

5. Georgia Bulldogs:

Kirby Smart returns his starting quarterback in 2026. The last two years (2022 and 2024) that that’s happened, Georgia made the College Football Playoff. 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. It’ll 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. 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’Marley Riddle (East Carolina) and Braylon Conley (USC) to bolster the secondary.

6. Indiana Hoosiers:

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. 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. Cornerback D’Angelo 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). That’s a good way to restock after national championship success. The only place where Cignetti hasn’t grabbed a plug-and-play guy is at offensive tackle.

7. LSU Tigers:

Is this too high for LSU? Maybe. But Lane Kiffin has had winning seasons at every stop. 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. Kiffin didn’t just grab transfers; he grabbed proven commodities. 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’s leading defense in interceptions. Kiffin left a CFP team to coach at LSU.

Read also: New Era of NCAA Talent

8. Texas A&M Aggies:

If you’re looking for a dark-horse Heisman contender, look no further than Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed. Reed will have Mario Craver back on the outside, Le’Veon Moss in the backfield and wide receiver Isaiah Horton comes in from Alabama as KC Concepcion departs. Mike Elko’s defense was fourth in the country in sacks last year, but couldn’t 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.

9. Oklahoma Sooners:

Oklahoma’s success in 2026 depends on the health of quarterback John Mateer. Mateer looked like a Heisman frontrunner before his hand injury in September. The Sooners got Mateer some nice weapons like Parker Livingstone from rival Texas, Trell Harris from Virginia and Hayden Hansen from Florida. With Mateer healthy, the offense should pull its weight. We know the defense under head coach Brent Venables will be good - if not elite - yet again.

10. BYU Cougars:

BYU has Bear Bachmeier coming off a freshman season and running back LJ Martin after nearly gaining 1,300 yards on the ground. While BYU lost its defensive coordinator to Michigan, Kalani Sitake has defensive roots, so I’m not too worried there. It was more important that the Cougars retained players like cornerbacks Evan Johnson and Therrian Alexander III.

Other Teams in the Mix

Here's a look at teams ranked 11-25:

11. Arizona State Sun Devils: The Sun Devils earn their highest preseason ranking since 1998.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini: The Fighting Illini get their best ranking since 1990. Illinois lost Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee Volunteers, 30-28).
13. South Carolina Gamecocks: South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Ga.).
14. USC Trojans: Southern California lost Alamo Bowl vs. TCU, 30-27).
15. Houston Cougars: Houston rounds out the top 15 after a 10-win season.
16. Missouri Tigers: Missouri lost Gator Bowl vs. Virginia, 13-7).
17. Louisville Cardinals: Louisville might have the best running back in the country in Issac Brown.
18. Utah Utes: Utah Utes won Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nebraska, 44-22).
19. Washington Huskies: Washington won LA Bowl vs. Boise State, 38-10).
20. SMU Mustangs: SMU returns Kevin Jennings at quarterback, two years removed from leading the Mustangs to a CFP appearance.
21. Tennessee Volunteers: Tennessee would be ranked No.
22. Iowa State Cyclones:
23. Ole Miss Rebels: Ole Miss Rebels won ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Nebraska, 31-24).
24. Oklahoma State Cowboys:
25. Penn State Nittany Lions: Penn State lost Pinstripe Bowl vs. Clemson, 22-10).

Key Matchups to Watch

Week 0: No. 17 Kansas State vs. No. 22 Iowa State (Dublin, Ireland) | Saturday, Aug.

Week 1: No. 1 Texas at No.

Week 1: No. 8 Alabama at Florida State | Saturday, Aug.

Week 1: No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson | Saturday, Aug.

Week 1: No. 13 South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta, Ga.) |Sunday, Aug.

Week 1: No. 6 Notre Dame at No.

Outside of the top-3 showdown in Columbus, there are two other top-10 matchups to watch out for. No. 9 LSU travels to No. 4 Clemson for the battle of Death Valley, and No. 10 Miami hosts No.

Factors Influencing the Rankings

Several factors contribute to these way-too-early rankings:

Returning Talent: Teams with experienced quarterbacks, running backs, and key defensive players are favored.
Transfer Portal Impact: The ability to acquire and integrate talented transfers can significantly boost a team's prospects.
Coaching Changes: New coaching staffs can bring fresh perspectives and strategies, leading to improved performance.
Recruiting Success: Strong recruiting classes provide an influx of young talent that can contribute immediately or develop into future stars.

Historical Trends and Noteworthy Observations

Texas dominated the preseason poll with 27 of 57 first place votes, marking the Longhorns' fifth all-time appearance at No.
Defending national champion Ohio State finished second in the poll with 11 first place votes and 53 points behind Texas. Penn State finished third in the poll with 11 first place votes.
After being ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll in each of the last two years, Georgia starts this season at No. 4, marking the lowest preseason ranking for the Bulldogs since being ranked No.
The No. 8 ranking for Alabama is the lowest preseason ranking for the Crimson Tide in the history of the poll.
No. 12 Illinois is in the poll for just the second time ever. The only other appearance came when the Fighting Illini claimed the No.
The eventual national champion has been ranked in the top six of the preseason poll nine times since 2015. Alabama in 2017 is the only national champion to start the season ranked No.

Conclusion

These way-too-early rankings offer a glimpse into the potential contenders and storylines for the upcoming college football season. While many factors can change between now and kickoff, these rankings provide a foundation for discussion and anticipation as we eagerly await the start of the season.

Appendix: Ranking Definitions and Historical Context

NCAA Division I FBS Football Rankings

Two human polls and a committee's selections comprise the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship at the FBS level. Instead, that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason-the AP poll and the Coaches Poll. One additional poll, the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking, is usually released starting midway through the season. The committee did not rank a Group of Six conference in the top 25 in the Week 10 rankings. Instead, as indicated by the second table, the committee indicated the top ranked Group of Six team. The joint poll of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation is a human poll which the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book designates as being one of the "major selectors" of national championships.

About the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll

The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll was established at the conclusion of the 2013 season by long-time partners, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF). Voters rank the top 16 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and the results will be released every Sunday of the 2025 season; the individual votes of all members will also be made public. The first regular season poll will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 2 (to account for Labor Day games), and the final poll will be released Sunday, Dec. 7. The pollsters consist of FWAA writers and College Football Hall of Famers who were selected to create a balanced-geographical perspective.

About the FWAA

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.

About the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people.

Most Weeks Ranked No. 1

Here are the 10 FBS programs that have spent the most weeks ranked No.

RANK	TEAM	WEEKS RANKED NO. 1	LAST TIME RANKED NO. 1
1	Ohio State	105	Nov. 29, 2025
2	Alabama	97	Nov. 2, 2024
3	Notre Dame	94	Oct. 20, 1993
4	Oklahoma	78	Dec. 2, 2000
5	USC	62	Oct. 23, 2005
6	Michigan	55	Nov. 23, 1997
7	Miami	41	Oct. 27, 2002
8	Texas	32	Oct. 18, 2009
9	Florida State	24	Oct. 19, 2014
10	Nebraska	23	Oct. 12, 1997

Since the College Football Playoff started in 2014, only one preseason No. 1 has gone on to win the national championship - 2017 Alabama. Four No.The SEC and Big Ten lead all conferences with four and three top-10 teams each, respectively.

Texas earned the top spot with all of the hype in the world behind redshirt sophomore Arch Manning. In the two spot, Penn State earns its highest preseason ranking since 1997, when the Nittany Lions were ranked No. 1. No. 4 Clemson is in a similar boat as Penn State, returning quarterback Cade Klubnik and all three of his leading receivers from 2024. No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Oregon and No. Some of the uncharacteristic teams to watch - at least in terms of preseason rankings - include No. 11 Arizona State and No. 12 Illinois. The Sun Devils earn their highest preseason ranking since 1998, with the Fighting Illini getting their best since 1990.

A Note on Miami's Quarterback Situation

Miami’s ranking is based on the Hurricanes not landing Duke’s Darian Mensah out of the portal. That ongoing process keeps Miami from No. 8 in my rankings, a 13-spot drop for the CFP runner-up. Miami doesn’t have any proven option at quarterback if Mensah doesn’t head to the Sunshine State and rely on true freshman Dereon Coleman or redshirt freshmen Judd Anderson or Luke Nickel. That’s not a recipe for success. The Hurricanes have done a good job retooling elsewhere with Damon Wilson coming in to ease the loss of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor off the edge, and a young secondary will benefit from another year of experience.

Other Teams to Consider

Virginia made the ACC Championship Game last year and added a pair of quality quarterbacks in the offseason. Boise State returns quarterback Maddux Madsen as the Broncos go for their first-ever Pac-12 title after winning the last two Mountain West titles. Arizona returns four-year starter Noah Fifita at quarterback. Utah has a new head coach in Morgan Scalley. While he’ll return quarterback Devon Dampier, it’ll be a new offense for the signal-caller after Whittingham took his coaching staff with him to Michigan.

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