The college football landscape is set for another unpredictable season in 2026, with Ohio State earning the preseason No. 1 ranking and the favorite status in the Big Ten. The rankings, compiled by The Post's Zach Braziller, feature a mix of perennial powerhouses and surprising contenders.
Indiana, fresh off a historic undefeated 2025 season capped by a national championship, aims to build on its success. Head coach Curt Cignetti is reportedly pushing his team even harder in fall camp to prevent complacency, having also aggressively recruited from the transfer portal to fill voids left by players entering the NFL draft. The Hoosiers added key pieces at quarterback, running back, receiver, offensive line, and cornerback.
Top Contenders and Key Storylines
Ohio State's offense boasts a formidable trio of quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson, and receiver Jeremiah Smith. Despite defensive departures to the NFL, the Buckeyes' unit, which led the nation in points allowed in 2025, is expected to remain strong with emerging talents and significant transfer additions.
Oregon's Dante Moore made headlines by returning to school, forgoing a top NFL draft selection. He is expected to lead a strong defense that returns multiple All-Big Ten selections.
Notre Dame, fueled by the motivation of a playoff snub, is a popular championship pick. While losing key running backs, the team features Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback CJ Carr and a defense with eight returning starters, including AP All-American cornerback Leonard Moore.
Georgia continues its streak of strong seasons under Kirby Smart, returning quarterback Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier, and cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, along with 11 other starters.
Texas, under Arch Manning, enters the season with increased potential despite less preseason hype than in previous years. The Longhorns have bolstered their roster with impactful transfers on offense and welcomed former TCU coach Gary Patterson as their new defensive coordinator.
Miami, seeking to continue the trend of transfer quarterbacks excelling, welcomes Duke transfer Darian Mensah. He will have returning talent at receiver and running back as Miami aims to lead the ACC.
Ole Miss receives a boost from a judicial ruling granting running back Trinidad Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility, allowing him to pair with running back Kewan Lacy for another season after reaching the CFP semifinals.
Lane Kiffin's move from Ole Miss to LSU during the College Football Playoff created significant buzz. Kiffin secured the nation's top transfer class at LSU, including quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, with a notable early-season matchup against his former team in Oxford.
Preseason Rankings and Predictions
The Post's preseason Top 25 rankings for 2026 place Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Indiana rounding out the top five. Texas is ranked sixth, with Miami at seventh, Ole Miss eighth, Texas A&M ninth, and LSU tenth.
Other notable teams in the top 25 include Oklahoma (11), Texas Tech (12), BYU (13), Washington (14), Michigan (15), Alabama (16), USC (17), Penn State (18), Tennessee (19), Utah (20), Iowa (21), SMU (22), Houston (23), Louisville (24), and Clemson (25).
In playoff predictions, Ohio State is projected to face Miami in the first round, with LSU playing South Florida, BYU against Indiana, and Texas facing SMU. The predicted quarterfinals see Ohio State facing Miami, BYU taking on Notre Dame, Texas playing Georgia, and Oregon meeting LSU. The semifinals project Oregon over Ohio State and Texas over BYU, with Oregon ultimately predicted to win the national championship over Texas.