1 hour ago
3
The 2025 college football season featured the unpredictable.
Indiana, the losingest program in the sport’s history, not only won it all, but registered the first 16-0 season in the modern era.
Miami reached the title game after failing to win the mediocre ACC.
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss in the midst of the College Football Playoff.
So, what does 2026 have in store for us?
Indiana and coach Curt Cignetti are looking to build on their magical campaign. Kiffin quickly stockpiled talent at LSU. Miami returned a ton, and added Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, the ACC preseason Player of the Year, as a strong replacement for Carson Beck. A host of the usual powerhouses — from Ohio State to Notre Dame, Georgia to Oregon and Texas to Ole Miss — are legitimate contenders.
The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks it all down in The Post’s preseason Top 25 college football rankings.
College Football 2026 rankings
1. Ohio State
It’ll be hard to find a better big three on offense than the Buckeyes trio of quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and receiver Jeremiah Smith. Though the defense, which was ranked No. 1 nationally in points allowed a year ago (9.3), was hit hard by the departures of top draft picks Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, the unit remains loaded. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., linebacker Payton Pierce and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. have breakout potential, and Christian Alliegro, a Wisconsin transfer, and Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. were significant additions.
2. Oregon
Dante Moore passed on one shade of green to stay in another tint of it. There wasn’t a bigger stay-or-go decision in the sport than the Oregon star signal-caller opting to remain in school rather than be a top-three pick and likely join the Jets. Moore should get plenty of support from a stifling defense that returns All-Big Ten selections A’Mauri Washington, Brandon Finney Jr., Bear Alexander, Teitum Tuioti and Koi Perich.
3. Notre Dame
Coach Marcus Freeman shouldn’t have to do much motivating this year — just reminding his players of the Irish’s playoff snub will do the trick. Notre Dame is a popular championship pick, and it should be, despite the loss of dynamic running back duo Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Quarterback CJ Carr is a Heisman Trophy candidate entering his second season as the starter, and the defense could be elite, with eight starters back, led by AP All-American cornerback Leonard Moore.
4. Georgia
The Bulldogs have won at least 11 games in the past eight complete seasons, and have qualified for the SEC Championship game each of those years. Expect another fall along those lines in Athens as Kirby Smart returns quarterback Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier, cornerback Ellis Robinson IV and 11 other starters.
5. Indiana
Left tackle Carter Smith told The Post that Cignetti has been even tougher and more focused in fall camp. He’s not going to allow for complacency after the team’s stunning perfect season. Cignetti hit the portal hard in the spring — adding key players at quarterback (Josh Hoover, TCU), running back (Turbo Richard, Boston College), receiver (Nick Marsh, Michigan State), offensive line (Joe Brunner, Wisconsin) and cornerback (A.J. Harris, Penn State) after losing a program-record eight players to the NFL draft.
6. Texas
A year later, there is less hype in Austin for Arch Manning and the Longhorns, but more potential. Manning has a full year of experience to lean on, and a ridiculous amount of talent around him. Coach Steve Sarkisian added impact transfers in wideout Cam Coleman from Auburn, running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers from Arizona State and N.C. State, respectively, and tight end Michael Masunas from Michigan State. But the biggest addition could be new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, whom standout defensive end Colin Simmons called the unit’s greatest strength.
7. Miami
Two years ago, it was Cam Ward. Then, it was Carson Beck’s turn. Now, Darian Mensah is hoping to make it three transfer quarterbacks in as many years to shine for the Hurricanes. The Duke transfer inherits returning standouts at receiver (Malachi Toney) and running back (Mark Fletcher Jr.), and is being joined by fellow Blue Devils wideout Cooper Barkate. The Hurricanes are the class of the ACC.
8. Ole Miss
They should build a statue for Judge Robert Whitwell in Oxford, or at least give him free season tickets. The Mississippi district judge granted Trinidad Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility back in February with an injunction, which the state Supreme Court held up by denying an NCAA petition on the ruling. That means the terrific tandem of Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy gets another season together to torture SEC defenses after leading the Rebels to the CFP semifinals last January.
9. Texas A&M
The Aggies’ breakthrough 11-win season was a bit misleading. They took advantage of a weak schedule that, among the top six teams in the SEC, only included Texas. That won’t be the case this season for coach Mike Elko, returning starting quarterback Marcel Reed and explosive wideout Mario Craver. Texas A&M has trips to LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma, and hosts Tennessee and Texas.
10. LSU
College football has a new villain, and he resides in Baton Rouge. Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU during the playoff, an unprecedented move that created national headlines. It didn’t hurt recruiting: Kiffin still landed the top transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports.com. That haul is led by Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and includes multiple former Ole Miss players. They are sure to be greeted harshly Sept. 19 in their return Oxford, Miss.
11. Oklahoma
The Sooners looked like a real threat before quarterback John Mateer suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand in Week 4. He was never the same. Now Mateer is back, and has some new pieces to work with in receivers Trell Harris (Virginia) and Parker Livingstone (Texas). If the experienced defense remains stingy — it was seventh in points allowed per game (15.5) — Oklahoma can contend in the SEC.
12. Texas Tech
Ten days before the Red Raiders’ opener, they landed a quarterback for the coming season in Florida State transfer Tommy Castellanos. Welcome to college sports, where nothing makes sense anymore. Castellanos was part of a lawsuit in Kentucky in which several players were given a temporary injunction for a fifth year of eligibility. He is, at least initially, expected to play behind starter Will Hammond, who is coming off a torn ACL. Defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech is the preseason favorite in its league, after bringing in the nation’s sixth-best transfer portal class, per 247Sports.com.
13. BYU
Just four programs — Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Oregon — have won more games the past two seasons than BYU. The Cougars should win double figures again this year, after coach Kalani Sitake passed on Penn State to stay at his alma mater, and brought back Big 12 preseason Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, productive dual-threat quarterback Bear Bachmeier and All-Big 12 preseason defensive selections Keanu Tanuvasa, Cade Uluave, Evan Johnson and Faletau Satuala.
14. Washington
Demond Williams Jr. is a Heisman Trophy sleeper, a junior quarterback who produced 31 touchdowns a year ago. His return, after considering a transfer, makes Washington a potential playoff contender. The defense returns six starters, led by leading tackler Alex McLaughlin, and wideout Dezmen Roebuck is a playmaker who may be ready for stardom. Standing in the Huskies’ way is a minefield of a schedule that features Oregon, Indiana, USC and Penn State.
15. Michigan
The Big Ten schedule makers didn’t do new Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham any favors: trips to Oregon and Ohio State, and home matchups against Iowa, Penn State and defending national champion Indiana. Fortunately, he was able to keep promising young quarterback Bryce Underwood in Ann Arbor, and brought All-Big 12 selections John Henry Daley and Smith Snowden with him from Utah.
16. Alabama
Kalen DeBoer has gone a combined 20-8 in his first two seasons at Alabama, which is hardly anything to celebrate in Tuscaloosa. Yet, he received an extension through January 2033 after last year. Another underwhelming season by Crimson Tide standards and athletic director Greg Byrne will be feeling the heat. The secondary, which returns all five starters, including All-SEC preseason selections Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard, does have a chance to be special.
17. USC
Coach Lincoln Riley’s star has faded considerably since he left Oklahoma for USC. The Trojans have gone a pedestrian 24-15 the past three years, and are 11-7 in conference play since joining the Big Ten. There is optimism for a big year, especially offensively: Quarterback Jayden Maiava, and running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan, along with the entire offensive line, return. Riley is hoping former TCU coach and new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, now 66, can fix that side of the ball. It has been an algebra equation Riley cannot solve.
18. Penn State
Matt Campbell wasn’t Penn State’s first choice as James Franklin’s replacement — the Big Ten school whiffed on BYU’s Kalani Sitake first — but the former Iowa State coach comes with a strong reputation as someone who frequently did more with less. He’ll have all the resources he’ll need in Happy Valley. For year one, he brought a bunch of Cyclones with him, most notably starting quarterback Rocco Becht and top defensive back Jeremiah Cooper.
19. Tennessee
Expect the Volunteers to make a major leap defensively with the addition of new coordinator Jim Knowles, who brought multiple starters with him from Penn State. If Coach Josh Heupel can figure out the quarterback position — true freshman Faizon Brandon, a top five high school prospect, beat out sophomore George MacIntyre for the starting spot — Tennessee could be a surprise.
20. Utah
New coach, but don’t expect much to change at Utah. Morgan Scalley served as Kyle Whittingham’s assistant for 18 seasons, and 10 of those years were spent as the defensive coordinator. Under Scalley, the Utes defense was annually strong up front and last year they were 17th in the country in points allowed (18.9). He was able to keep his top two offensive players in quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker.
21. Iowa
There are certain givens in life. You go to school, you pay taxes, Iowa runs the ball and is difficult to score against. We’re not expecting much to change this year for the Hawkeyes, who return All-American interior offensive lineman lineman Kade Pieper, leading rusher Kamari Moulton and experienced linebacker Jayden Montgomery.
22. SMU
The Mustangs have continuity, significant considering there are early tests at Florida State and Louisville the first three weeks of the season. Quarterback Kevin Jennings (49 touchdown passes the past two seasons), and All-ACC offensive linemen Josh Bates and P.J. Williams are strong returning pieces on offense, and linebackers Alexander Kilgore and Brandon Booker lead the defense. All-ACC safety Ahmaad Moses is attempting to return for a fifth year, but his eligibility status is uncertain.
23. Houston
Houston improved by six wins in Year 2 under coach Willie Fritz, and the Cougars could take another step forward this fall. Quarterback Conner Weigman and wideout Amare Thomas are both back after combining for 12 touchdowns last year, and defensive back Will James (five passes defensed, three interceptions) is a ballhawk in the secondary.
24. Louisville
A sleeper to win the ACC, the Cardinals don’t have to deal with Clemson or Miami during the regular season. They have a strong transfer class led by Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and Vanderbilt receiver Tre Richardson, along with a solid returning nucleus. Clev Lubin (8.5 sacks a year ago) anchors a defense that is calling itself the “Red Swarm.”
25. Clemson
I can’t quit you, Clemson. My pick to win it all last year was a complete flop, and now the Tigers are unranked in the AP’s preseason poll for the first time in 15 years. Coach Dabo Swinney will use that slight as motivation. The front seven, anchored by All-ACC selections Will Heldt and Sammy Brown, has the chance to be terrific, and receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. is a potential star if he can stay on the field after his 2025 was cut short due to a spinal injury. Don’t let me down again, Clemson.
College Football Playoff 2026 predictions
First Round
8 Miami def. 9 Alabama
5 LSU def. 12 South Florida
10 BYU def. 7 Indiana
6 Texas def 11 SMU
Quarterfinals
1 Ohio State def. 8 Miami
10 BYU def. 2 Notre Dame
6 Texas def. 3 Georgia
4 Oregon def. 5 LSU
Semifinals
4 Oregon def. 1 Ohio State
6 Texas def. 10 BYU
Final
4 Oregon def. 6 Texas
English (US)