It’s less than two weeks until the start of the 2026 college football season, and we’re in the midst of preseason rankings season. The AP Poll Top 25 was released at noon on Monday, August 17, but which teams should you really be watching this fall? The PFN College Football Top 25 is powered by data, not reputation, and serves as the ultimate level set for the season.
25) SMU Mustangs
Rhett Lashlee’s SMU Mustangs suffered an offseason scare with an injury to star quarterback Kevin Jennings, but should still be considered one of the top teams in the country. Jennings is a terrifying dual-threat to face, especially when paired with PFN Preseason All-America right tackle PJ Williams.
A defense that returns some of the talent that led to an 83.1 PFN CFB Defense Impact score last fall (30th in the country), combined with portal acquisitions, should prove difficult to score on, especially as the Mustangs sit outside the top 50 in strength of schedule.
24) Louisville Cardinals
If defense wins championships, the Louisville Cardinals shouldn’t be discounted as a threat to make a run at the ACC title this fall. They ranked 13th nationally in PFN Defense Impact score (86.1) a year ago, and placed Clev Lubin, Antonio Watts, and Tayon Holloway on our PFN Preseason All-America teams.
Jeff Brohm is the king of rejuvenating quarterbacks, and he gets his hands on highly recruited former Ohio State Buckeye Lincoln Kienholz for the 2026 season. The talented-but-unproven passer might not need to carry the offense as the Cardinals have one of the best one-two punches in the country at running back.
23) Virginia Cavaliers
After reaching the ACC Championship in 2025, the only way is down for the Virginia Cavaliers, right? Well, to quote the great Lee Corso, not so fast, my friend.
Sure, Tony Elliott’s team lost starting quarterback Chandler Morris despite a lengthy eligibility battle, but if Beau Pribula bounces back from injury to his peak form, the Cavaliers will have a dangerous offense behind a stud offensive line. Kam Robinson anchors a decent defense, and the schedule avoids most of the expected ACC juggernauts.
22) Clemson Tigers
Oh, how things change in the course of a year. Ahead of the 2025 season, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers were considered a legitimate national championship contender. Instead, a 7-6 season that included a 4-4 ACC campaign unfolded with calls for change coming from outside of the program.
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Swinney remains, and they were even a little more adventurous in the transfer portal than we’ve seen before. There is some uncertainty at the quarterback position, and the loss of talent to the NFL clouds the ceiling of this team, but never discount a motivated Clemson team — especially one with two game-changing wide receivers and a slew of defensive playmakers.
21) Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes being ranked in the preseason is a tradition like no other. Some years, it’s far from warranted, but there are reasons to believe in Kirk Ferentz’s team as he heads into his 100th straight season of being a college football head coach.
As always, the offensive line will determine the success of this season, and Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper are both studs. In fact, this Hawkeyes team contains all the hallmarks of competitive Iowa teams. There’s a strong secondary, a dynamic tight end in DJ Vonnahme, and there’s even an Epenesa pegged to start at defensive end.
20) Washington Huskies
The biggest question mark surrounding the Washington Huskies will be how the team rebuilds around quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The third-year passer beat out Dante Moore for PFN Preseason All-Big Ten honors, and is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country, but will his transfer portal tactics of the offseason destabilize the dynamic?
If not, and all noises out of the Pacific Northwest suggest not, then Jedd Fisch’s team has the talent in all phases to make a run in an ultra-competitive Big Ten. When I say all phases, what I really mean is: keep an eye on transfer kicker Tyler Robles.
19) Michigan Wolverines
Amidst all the controversy surrounding the Michigan Wolverines in 2025, the program still managed to go 9-4 and finish the season ranked 21st in the final AP Top 25 Poll. All they did over the offseason was improve the culture inside the football team by hiring one of the highest-regarded head coaches in college football, Kyle Whittingham.
But that’s not all. They retained a talented quarterback in Bryce Underwood, key components of the offense like Andrew Marsh and Jordan Marshall, recruited at a high level and plundered the transfer portal for one of the best pass rushers in the country, John Henry Daley. Yeah, Michigan might be the really good kind of good in the 2026 college football season.
18) Utah Utes
Devon Dampier. That’s the tweet. The Big 12 is stacked in the 2026 season, but the Utah Utes shouldn’t be discounted as a legitimate contender because of their game-changing dual-threat quarterback. He was banged up at times a year ago, but still put together a campaign that earned him a spot as PFN’s Preseason All-Big 12 First Team quarterback.
A healthy Dampier, a talented running back room led by Wayshawn Parker, and a defense that is always up to the task make for a terrifying opponent. Morgan Scalley was groomed to lead this team, although Coach Whittingham’s departure can’t be underestimated, and neither can the loss of bookends on the offensive line.
17) Tennessee Volunteers
Josh Heupel is yet to name a starting quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers, but that rarely seems to be a problem for the program. You could likely insert a garbage bin into Heupel’s system, and they’d still find a way to put up 3,000 yards and double-digit touchdown passes, especially with Mike Matthews leading a talented wide receiver rotation.
The Vols loaded up on defensive pieces in the transfer portal, but the two-game suspension for Arion Carter and a season-ending injury to Edrees Farooq are clouds hanging over the outlook for this SEC outfit with less than three weeks remaining until they start the 2026 season. Carter being absent against a Georgia Tech team knocking on the door of the PFN Power Rankings will be significant.
16) BYU Cougars
The PFN Power Rankings are driven by data, and there are reasons why the BYU Cougars start the year 16th. However, based on pure feel, the Big 12 program could climb these rankings as a legitimate contender by the time the year is out, especially having fought off Penn State to retain Kalani Sitake.
LJ Martin is the best running back in the country. Expectations are high for a sophomore leap for Bear Bachmeier. The spine of the defense is as solid as any in the country, and Cade Uluave should step in to seamlessly replace Jack Kelly alongside Isaiah Glasker. A return to the Big 12 Championship Game should be the minimum expectation for this team.
15) Missouri Tigers
To consistently win in the SEC, and the Missouri Tigers have been a consistent winner under Eli Drinkwitz, you have to be rock solid in the trenches. It comes as no surprise to see that three of the five offensive line starters for the Tigers feature in PFN’s Preseason All-SEC teams, led by Cayden Green.
There are stumbling blocks for success, however. The Tigers have the ninth-hardest strength of schedule, according to PFN. There is also major uncertainty surrounding running back Ahmad Hardy, who would have earned preseason All-America adulation if not for suffering a gunshot wound to the leg. Without Hardy, the pressure is on Ole Miss QB transfer Austin Simmons.
14) USC Trojans
Despite losing Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL, the USC Trojans are still set to have one of the top offenses in the country this fall. The unit ranked fourth by PFN Offense Impact score last year, and with Jayden Maiava returning under center, arguably the best running back duo in the country, and Tanook Hines set for a breakout year, nothing should change.
It’s a tale as old as time for a Lincoln Riley-led team, however, with the defense having to match the offense’s intensity and talent. Adding Jontez Williams from the transfer portal is huge for the secondary, but will it be enough? The loss of starting center Kilian O’Connor is another significant factor to consider for the Trojans ahead of their Week 0 opener.
13) Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners might be the best defensive team in the country this fall. That’s not hyperbole; it’s common sense for a Brent Venables team that returns dominant playmakers at every level of the unit. David Stone is a monster. Eli and Peyton Bowen patrol the secondary like their lives depend on it. Owen Heinecke, Kip Lewis, and Cole Sullivan are as good a linebacker room as there is in college football.
But can John Mateer stay healthy? What does the running back room look like? How quickly does a new wide receiver room get on pace with their quarterback? And how do all these questions factor in against one of the hardest schedules in the nation? Lots of questions, and the answers will determine how high this Sooners squad can climb this fall.
12) Texas Tech Red Raiders
Joey McGuire should be considered the transfer portal king. Yes, he has some serious financial backing, but the Texas Tech Red Raiders lost almost all their best players to the NFL Draft, and yet the roster somehow looks as good, if not better, than the one they rode to the 2025 Big 12 title and into the playoff, especially on defense. It’s insane how good that unit could be in 2026.
There’s plenty to be excited by on the offensive side, too, especially if Will Hammond is good-to-go in Week 1. That said, there’s a reason why McGuire pursued Brendan Sorsby so hard this offseason, and it’s because the QB play was a letdown in the biggest moments last year, and it cost them. Could the same happen in 2026? It’s more than a decent bet that it will.
11) LSU Tigers
While McGuire might be deserving of the “transfer portal king” crown, it’s Lane Kiffin who wears it for now. After the late-season controversy over his hire, it’s time for Kiffin and the LSU Tigers to silence it all on the field, but do they have the roster assembled by the new head coach’s abundant bankroll to meet the high expectations of a program craving national glory?
They improved in almost all areas while retaining the most talented players who didn’t jump to the NFL. Yet, this team will ride or die on the play of quarterback Sam Leavitt. He was one of the most sought-after passers in the transfer portal, and Kiffin made it his mission to land him. But which version of Leavitt will LSU get this fall is another question entirely.
10) Texas A&M Aggies
Preseason expectations have proven a curse for the Texas A&M Aggies for as long as I’ve been covering college football. Yet, things seem different under Mike Elko. Gone are the days of landing five-star recruits who fail to deliver, replaced by a consistency and desire to silence the doubters that led to an 11-2 record and College Football Playoff appearance last fall.
A rebuilt offensive line is the biggest question mark heading into the 2026 season because the Aggies return one of college football’s best wide receivers in Mario Craver, a talented secondary, and a dual-threat quarterback in Marcel Reed, who has the talent to beat any defense when he’s at his best. Don’t sleep on linebacker Ray Coney emerging as a star.
9) Alabama Crimson Tide
When the Alabama Crimson Tide dished out a contract extension to Kalen DeBoer this offseason, it caused a little controversy, not least among their own fans. However, it was a decision based on what this team can become under the first head coach since Nick Saban, rather than the results seen in his first two years in Tuscaloosa. That vision should become clear in 2026.
Of course, there are still questions. It’s August 17, and we don’t know who the starting quarterback is. We don’t know if the ground game, an Achilles’ heel in 2025, is going to be any better. Yet, the schedule is one of the more favorable in the SEC, and this defense has the talent to be one of the best in the conference. An early October trip to Athens will be the ultimate opportunity to answer any of the lingering doubts.
8) Ole Miss Rebels
If you think the Ole Miss Rebels are going to miss a beat without Lane Kiffin, think again. Yes, it was his roster that took the program to the playoff under Pete Golding, but be under no illusion that every single player was playing for the man at the helm, not the man on his way to Baton Rouge.
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Golding might be the most underrated head coach in the country, and a team that was a legitimate contender for a national title returns their starting quarterback in Trinidad Chambliss and star running back in Kewan Lacy, two of the very best in the business. The defense is rebuilt from the portal, but that’s Golding’s wheelhouse.
7) Texas Longhorns
Is this Texas’ year? We ask the same question every season, and we ordinarily get the same answer. Steve Sarkisian might be one of the best coaches in college football, but he’s also undeniably one of the coaches under the most pressure to deliver results on the field, especially after the offseason transfer portal splurge to surround Arch Manning with weapons.
The focus will naturally be on Manning, especially as Cam Coleman produces insane one-handed highlight reels in camp. However, it’s the arrival of Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown that signals the intent for the Longhorns. Run the ball. Dominate on defense. They have the pieces to do that at a high level, without relying on Arch to carry the entire program.
6) Miami Hurricanes
How do you follow up a national championship appearance for the Miami Hurricanes? Well, winning the ACC title and taking all the glory is the obvious step, and Mario Cristobal’s team had the offseason needed to continue the momentum from a year ago.
They return the most dangerous after-the-catch receiver in the country in Malachi Toney, while also giving him a better quarterback (Darian Mensah) and some receiver help (Cooper Barkate). The defense, which was the strength of the team a year ago, returned and retooled. Their success may hinge on a rebuilt offensive line with a true freshman at left tackle.
5) Georgia Bulldogs
Never sleep on a team led by Kirby Smart. The Georgia Bulldogs head coach knows how to turn talented players into a winning team, and he does it year in and year out. Somehow, the program has become something of a national afterthought in the shifting college football climate, but they have every chance to win a national championship at the end of the 2026 season.
The optimism starts with Smart, but runs through returning quarterback Gunner Stockton and an experienced offensive line. There might not be a standout pass rusher in the same way as previous dominant Bulldogs’ defenses, but it’s a unit stacked from front to back with talent.
4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended the 2025 season with a top-10 offense and defense, according to PFN’s impact metrics, and they carry that into a 2026 revenge tour. Marcus Freeman’s team has a College Football Playoff-sized chip on its shoulder, and the roster talent and depth to enforce its will on almost any team in the country.
CJ Carr is earning early Heisman Trophy consideration. Leonard Moore is the best cornerback in the country, and as much as I hate to use the phrase, it isn’t even close. The loss of Jeremiyah Love is obviously significant, but for every running back the Irish lose, one seems to emerge in their place, especially with a stud offensive line to run behind.
3) Indiana Hoosiers
Now that people don’t have to Google Curt Cignetti anymore, we can get used to having the Indiana Hoosiers as a perennial fixture atop college football power rankings for a long time. The reigning national champions have proven that under the former James Madison head coach, they’re not just a flash in the pan; they’re a legitimate college football juggernaut.
There are obstacles to overcome, of course. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will be throwing touchdown passes in the NFL this fall, but TCU transfer Josh Hoover lands in an extremely quarterback-friendly offense that has a double-headed receiving monster in Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Last year’s dominance will be hard to repeat, but they’ll be a contender.
2) Oregon Ducks
Dante Moore returning to Eugene and spurning the NFL was the biggest piece of the Oregon Ducks’ offseason puzzle, making Dan Lanning’s team arguably one of the most complete national title contenders. With Moore, Dakorien Moore, and Evan Stewart, the Ducks have one of the best deep-ball offenses in the country, supplemented by a dangerous ground game.
Scarily, that might not be the most impressive element of the Oregon roster. The defense is stacked and features the best pass rush duo in the nation (Matayo Uiagelelei and Teitum Tuioti) flanking a terrifying interior. Koi Perich’s addition to the secondary helps offset the loss of Dillon Thieneman, while Brandon Finney is a rising cornerback with lockdown potential.
1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Julian Sayin. Bo Jackson. Carson Hinzman. Oh, and some guy called Jeremiah Smith. The Ohio State Buckeyes have become a legitimate NFL setup playing at the college football level, and their projected starting offense is like a who’s who of the next high NFL Draft picks. When they lose talent to the league, there is someone there to step seamlessly into the void.
There’s no reason to expect anything other than a Big Ten title challenge and a deep College Football Playoff run from the Buckeyes. While the offense returns its key components, the likes of Jermaine Mathews Jr., Jaylen McClain, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. are the next dominant defensive dominoes to fall into place.
PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gives them a 31% chance of winning the Big Ten and a 15% chance of winning the national championship.
