1. Oregon Ducks

The Ducks are loaded on the offensive side of the football, with Dante Moore returning to guide the potent Oregon attack.

Moore will be the best QB in the nation this season, and he has a ton of talent to work with on the offensive side of the ball. At his disposal are a trio of talented pass catchers in Dakorian Moore, UAB transfer Iverson Hooks, and Evan Stewart.

Stewart should return from his injury and regain his 2024 form.

Dan Lanning had to replace both coordinators in the offseason; to do so, he promoted from within, meaning a smooth transition is to be expected.

Lanning has gotten the defense rolling in his first few seasons in Eugene, and that unit should again be among the best in the nation.

New DC Chris Hampton has returnees along the line in A’Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander to pair with returning LBs Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti to set the tone on defense.

The addition of Koi Perich at safety from Minnesota will make this group formidable.

2. Indiana Hoosiers

Fernando Mendoza is gone, but the offense has been retooled. Nick Marsh, Tyler Morris and Charlie Becker give Josh Hoover one of the best WR units in the nation to work with.

The stable of RBs will be deep and talented, and the offensive line they will operate behind will take a backseat to no one. Carter Smith might be the best tackle in the nation.

As good as the offense was a season ago, the defense was the key to the championship. And once again that unit will be lights out. The defense was extremely good in 2025; this unit will be even better.

The Hoosiers have a ton of playmakers on that side of the ball, and they will cause a lot of problems up front without having to bring a ton of men. The secondary is full of shutdown playmakers that will create a lot of takeaways.

3. Texas Longhorns

Arch Manning is back, and that is a really good spot for the Horns to start. Manning will be throwing the ball to Ryan Mingo, who might be as good as any player in the nation.

The addition of Cam Coleman from Auburn gives UT a pair of playmakers on the outside to throw to. Raleek Brown enters from Arizona State and will create a one-two punch in the backfield with Hollywood Smothers.

The O-Line will be a strength, anchored by All-American Trevor Goosby at tackle. The ground game was an issue for UT in 2025 as they were 90th in the nation running the ball. This season, look for them to be much more physical up front.

Changes were made on the defensive side of things with Pete Kwiatkowski fired as the DC and replaced by Will Muschamp.

The former head coach has had a ton of success leading defenses in his career and was instrumental in Georgia’s past dominance as their DC.

That unit will be led on the field by Collin Simmons on the edge and Rasheem Biles at LB and should create a lot of havoc for opposing offenses.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

Julian Sayin will be a lot better at the quarterback position, and Jeremiah Smith might be the best player in the country.

Couple those two with Bo Jackson in the backfield and the Buckeyes’ offense will be difficult to stop. The offensive line should be improved this season as well.

Former NFL coach Arthur Smith was brought in to run the offense, and if the Bucks get similar results to the addition of Matt Patricia on defense last season, OSU will be tough to deal with.

The schedule is daunting with road tests at Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and USC. Those tests should make for a battle-tested squad come playoff time.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

Last year, Georgia was one of the youngest teams in the SEC, and Kirby Smart managed to guide them to a second consecutive conference crown.

The Dawgs pounded it out on the ground on offense and were able to shut down opponents on the ground as well. That is a pretty good recipe for success normally.

This season things could open up on offense a bit with Gunner Stockton having a year under his belt as a starting QB.

The strength of the team should be on defense, where UGA should be as stingy as anyone in the nation.

The secondary was a focal point in the offseason with transfer additions of Khalil Barnes, Gentry Williams and Ja’Marley Riddle, all of whom should offer immediate impacts.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This season, Notre Dame probably will not need to worry about the dilemma of playing in (or passing up) a Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance due to a perceived playoff snub.

The Irish should make a return to the postseason tournament this season.

The ground game was potent last season, and the Irish will certainly miss RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, but Aneyas Williams is ready to step into the role of main option and averaged 9.3 per tote last season.

CJ Carr will be even better in year two and has a pair of Ohio State transfers in Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham to throw to.

Defensively, the Irish return almost everything with nine of the top 10 tacklers back from last season.

The schedule will be easy as it generally is for Notre Dame. If the Irish successfully navigate games at BYU and vs. Miami at home,a ND should be in the playoffs.

7. Miami Hurricanes

The national runner-ups from a season ago should not slip too much at all in 2026.

The offense will need to replace Carson Beck at QB but seems to have found their guy in Darian Mensah, who led Duke to an ACC title a season ago.

Aside from the QB spot, the Canes return a lot of playmakers on offense, most notably RB Mark Fletcher and WR and speed demon Malachi Toney.

The defense lost a lot, especially along the line. While the NFL-level production lost will not be easily replaced, the additions of Damon Wilson and Keona Davis will continue to give The U a dangerous pass rush.

Leading tackler Mohamed Toure returns in the middle of the defense for an eighth (!!!!) season in college and the vet should again rack up the tackle numbers.

8. Texas A&M Aggies

The Aggies opened up 11-0 and then hit some speed bumps down the stretch, but A&M looks like they have some staying power under Mike Elko.

The roster was rebuilt through the portal, and the O-Line got a heavy dose of that rebuild. The revamped line will be anchored by former SEC rivals William Fornby and Tyree Adams at T and G, and Trovon Baugh.

Marcel Reed will return under center, and the Aggies will need a more consistent season from the signal caller if they are to improve upon last season’s hot start.

9. Ole Miss Rebels

Lane Kiffin is no longer roaming the sidelines in Oxford, and as good a coach as he might be, there are a lot of distractions that go along with him.

Last season, the distraction machine was on full tilt.

Pete Golding offers just as much substance but without the flash, and he did direct them to the semifinals of the playoffs last season, and to within moments of the title game.

Golding helped retain a lot of talent from that team, including All-SEC RB Kewan Lacy. Trinidad Chambliss gaining another year of eligibility may have been the Rebels’ biggest win in the offseason.

The head coach’s background is on defense, and he brought in a ton of talent on that side of the ball. The return of an AA talent at DT in Will Echoles will have the defense firing on all cylinders.

10. LSU Tigers

The Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge is finally over, and that might be the biggest and best news for the LSU program. Anything else from the last nine months is just gravy, really.

But oh my, it was quite a bit of au jus flowing in the Bayou! Obviously, Lane Kiffin is now in charge, and let the fun begin!

Kiffin works wonders with QBs, and he has a good one leading the Tigers in Sam Leavitt. Along with the QB, he brought in a slew of talented pass catchers.

On defense, he managed to keep DC Blake Baker and his All-American LB Whitt Weeks. The Tigers will roar in 2026.

11. BYU Cougars

Outside of Curt Cignetti, I think you’d be really hard-pressed to find a better college coach than Kalani Sitake—and BYU managed to lock him up, despite suitors from some of the heavyweights of the college football world.

Sitake was left in dire straits at the QB spot last season, and Bear Bachmeier stepped in and stepped up. The QB will be improved this season, and having LJ Martin toting the rock in the backfield will keep the offense rolling.

The LB crew will reload this season with the additions of Cade Uluave and Jake Clifton in the middle. Look for the Cougs to take another step forward in 2026 and win the Big 12.

12. Michigan Wolverines

Last season was not one to remember fondly in Ann Arbor, but things could not have turned out better in the end as the Wolverines stepped right into Kyle Whittingham.

The former Utah head coach will have plenty of playmakers in his first season with Michigan. The offense has three big-time performers in QB Bryce Underwood, RB Jordan Marshall, and WR Andrew Marsh.

The defense has some holes to fill, but Whittingham brought a lot of his defensive playmakers with him from Salt Lake City. Look for John Henry Daley and Smith Snowden to step in and step up.

13. Alabama Crimson Tide

Kalen DeBoer has gone 20-8 in his opening two campaigns in Tuscaloosa. That looks pretty good, but with the Tide, that gets your seat pretty hot, fair or not.

Last season, Alabama committed way too many penalties and had trouble running the football effectively. This season, there is a change in the OL coach as Adrian Klemm was brought in. Look for more physicality up front.

Expect a more balanced offense as well. Austin Mack will be under center, and the former Washington Husky does not have much experience to fall back on.

Defensively, the Tide will have to replace a ton, especially among the front seven, but Bama still has a wealth of talent.

14. Washington Huskies

This is an extremely talented team at Washington, but had Demond Williams Jr. bolted after last season, the outlook could be far different.

Williams returned to Seattle after flirting with leaving, and despite losing Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman, the offense is far from barren. Dezman Roebuck looks to be the real deal and a weapon in the passing game.

The backfield could be more of a committee approach this season, but there is talent in Jayden Limar, Trey Cooley and Quaid Carr.

The defense has some new faces and the secondary lost a lot, but Jedd Fisch has been building towards this season since he arrived at UW, and the pieces are in place for a breakout campaign.

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Brendan Sorsby era in Lubbock was short-lived and just disastrous. But even without Sorsby, this team is still a threat to claim the Big 12.

Will Hammond is returning from an ACL injury and was named the starter for the upcoming season, so all indications are he is fully healed. Had Tech known they’d have a healthy Hammon in December, they might not have even looked for a replacement.

Tech has plenty of pieces to replace from last season, but the West Texas war chest was hardly empty, and the Red Raiders once again reloaded through the portal.

With a healthy Hammon, Tech has plenty of tools for another playoff push.

16. USC Trojans

There is a ton of excitement surrounding the USC program and for good reason. The Trojans look to be ready to take the next step under Lincoln Riley.

The offense returns Jayden Maiava, both King Miller and Waymond Jordan, along with all five offensive linemen.

Tanook Hines could be a breakout star at receiver. Gary Patterson was brought in to run the defense, and despite not having an on-field role in the last five seasons, he is still one of the best defensive minds in the game.

The schedule is brutal, but with that comes plenty of opportunities for big wins. It is a make-or-break season for Riley, but the pieces are in place for success.

17. Oklahoma Sooners

Brent Venables has led the Sooners to a pair of 10-win seasons in his first three years in Norman. If John Mateer is right and fully healthy following his hand injury, a third double-digit win campaign should be there for the taking.

His mechanics looked better in the spring than at the end of last season, so that would indicate he is not having any lingering issues.

The Sooners added a trio of good pass catchers in the portal with WRs Parker Livingstone and Trell Harris along with TE Hayden Hansen. Livingstone is a deep threat who averaged 17.8 yards per catch for Texas last season.

The defense will be good, and the front seven should control the trenches.

18. Utah Utes

Perhaps the most important off-season development for new head man Morgan Scalley is keeping Devon Dampier on campus. The QB had 3,325 yards of offense and created 34 touchdowns last season.

The offense will again be in good shape with him behind center. It also helps that leading rusher Wayshawn Parker is back.

Now, a lot of talent, both players and coaches, followed Whittingham to Michigan, but the foundation is there for Utah to enjoy a successful season.

And should things play out in their favor, the Utes could challenge for the conference crown.

19. Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa is an interesting case to watch this season. The Hawkeyes are well-coached, and despite all of the new faces, Kirk Ferentz and his staff should get the most out of the unit.

Last season, the offense was opened up over past versions, but the running game was still the bread and butter.

This year, the workhorse will be LJ Phillips, and the South Dakota transfer should put up huge numbers—and having a potential All-American in Kade Pieper leading the way at guard certainly does not hurt.

The defense has some holes, but I have no doubt Phil Parker will have a unit that does not allow much from their opposition.

20. TCU Horned Frogs

The new QB is Jaden Craig from Harvard, so you’d think the decision-making from that position should be better in 2026 than what we saw in 2025.

New OC Gordon Sammis should also bring a more balanced attack. At UConn last season, he oversaw a unit that had a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in school history.

The Horned Frogs may only be a couple of upsets from challenging for the Big 12.

21. SMU Mustangs

The ACC is a lot deeper this season, especially at the top. Any number of teams could step up and win the league this season, and that list certainly includes SMU.

The Mustangs return QB Kevin Jennings, and among potential ACC favorites, they might have the most potential at that position. Kendrick Raphael is a bruiser and RB and will bring some physicality to the ground attack.

Defensively, the Ponies need to retool the front four and the secondary. Both were a priority over the offseason and a slew of incoming transfers should provide instant dividends.

22. Louisville Cardinals

Once again, the offseason saw Jeff Brohm’s name floated around as the replacement for other departing coaches, and Brohm is back on the sidelines for year four at his alma mater.

He is building something in Louisville, and I don’t see him giving that up anytime soon.

Lincoln Kienholz is a dual-threat QB who comes to the Cardinals from Ohio State. Under Brohm’s tutelage, look for a big season from him.

The Cards were a few plays down the stretch last season from an ACC title and playoff berth; look for Louisville to be in the mix once again in 2026.

23. Houston Cougars

The Cougars are a program on the rise, and Willie Fritz knows how to win football games. Last season, Houston went 10-3 with six conference wins, and the rest of the Big 12 took notice—or they certainly should have!

Conner Wiegman is back at QB and was extremely efficient last season, completing nearly 66% of his passes. Mekhi Hughes will look to regain his 2024 form at RB after struggling to get on the field with Oregon last season.

The key to this team will be the O-line and if they get production from the transfers they brought in, the sky could be the limit for Houston.

24. Tennessee Volunteers

The Vols had a disappointing 2025 after being a playoff team the season before. The defense was a big reason for the problems, and Josh Huepel made a change in the offseason.

Huepel got rid of Tim Banks and replacing him with former Penn State coordinator Jim Knowles, who also had success at Ohio State during their 2024 championship run.

UT gave up almost 400 yards of offense and 28 points per game last season.

I look for major improvements on that side of the ball and with that a lot happier Saturdays in Rockey Top.

25. Arizona Wildcats

Arizona seems like a team poised to take the next step in 2026. Following the success of Jedd Fisch, Brent Brennan had his struggles early in Tucson, but things seemed to click last season with a 9-4 mark.

This season things should be even more fun for the Wildcats. Noah Fifita returns, and the offense should be wide open and put up a ton of points. The offensive line will need to hold up, though.

On defense, the Cats have a ton of talent and depth along the front and should be able to control the line of scrimmage. If they can win consistently in the trenches, this could be a huge season for Arizona.