The seven college football teams that can actually win a national title in 2026

The Coaches Poll and AP Preseason Top 25 revealed one truth ahead of the 2026 college football season. 

There are seven FBS schools that stand out above the best and are almost interchangeable when trying to pick the winner of the third 12-team College Football Playoff. 

No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Indiana and No. 7 Miami all received at least one first-place vote in those polls – and one of those teams will be the national champion in 2026. At least that's what we believe to be the truth heading into this season. Those seven schools have the best odds to win a national championship, too  

Sporting News takes a closer look at each one of those national championship contenders, in order of their AP ranking.

MORE: Week 1 picks against the spread

Teams that can win national title in 2026 

No. 1 Ohio State 

Why they can win it: Ryan Day returns most of the key pieces from last year's 12-2 team, including quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith – who is the best player in college football. Bo Jackson rushed for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs, the offensive line is better and freshman receiver Chris Henry Jr. will make an impact.

What we like most: With coordinators Arthur Smith and Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes feel more like an NFL operation than a FBS school. Day has a knack for landing the right transfers – and Christian Alliegro, James Smith and Earl Little Jr. retool a defense that allowed 9.3 points per game in 2025. 

Biggest question: How does Ohio State navigate a schedule that includes six ranked teams? A three-game stretch against Indiana, No. 14 USC and Oregon from Oct. 17-Nov. 7 is brutal – and all that precedes The Game against No. 16 Michigan.

MORE: Sporting News 2026 Preseason All-America team | All-Decade All-America teams 

No. 2 Oregon 

Why they can win it: Quarterback Dante Moore – a potential first-round pick – returned to school along with several key defensive pieces. Oregon is 26-3 the last two seasons – the second-best record behind Indiana. Dan Lanning continues to build toward the program's first national championship – and with the addition of Koi Perich and Carl Williams IV to a secondary that already features Brandon Finney Jr., this team will be elite on defense. 

What we like most: The defensive line returns Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington – and linebacker Teitum Tuioti also is back. Uiagalelei and Tuioti combined for 15.5 sacks last season. When that many players return, the all-in, buy-in is high.

Biggest question: Offensive coordinator Will Stein took the Kentucky job, and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi left for Cal. How will new coordinators Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton fill those roles on a national championship contender?

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No. 3 Georgia 

Why they can win it: Georgia has won back-to-back SEC championships, and Gunner Stockton has emerged as one of the most reliable QBs in the SEC. Tackle Earnest Greene III and running back Nate Frazier return, and the defense features six All-SEC preseason picks, including safety KJ Bolden and cornerback Ellis Robinson IV. Kirby Smart can work with that. 

What we like most: The schedule features four ranked teams – which is down from six last season. That's not to say a few teams might jump up – but road trips against No. 13 Alabama and No. 9 Ole Miss are the road blocks. We are sad to see Tennessee taken off the schedule. 

Biggest question: Who is catching the football? Receiver London Humphreys and tight end Lawson Luckie – the top two returning pass catchers – combined for 33 receptions in 2025.

MORE: Ranking all 138 FBS coaches ahead of 2026 season

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No. 4 Notre Dame

Why they can win it: The Irish were ahead of schedule in 2024 when they reached the CFP championship game. Marcus Freeman has assembled depth through recruiting, and Notre Dame has legit next-level talent on both sides. CJ Carr is working behind a deep offensive line. The defense features cornerback Leonard Moore – the best defensive player in college football – and linebacker Drayk Bowen and safety Brauntae Johnson are future high-round picks. 

What we like most: The motivation. Notre Dame was snubbed from the CFP last season, and that should carry over for a program looking for its first national championship since 1988. That would be a fitting way to honor the late Lou Holtz. 

Biggest question: First-round picks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are gone. Who steps up behind starter Aneyas Williams – who had 224 yards and 5 TDs as the third back last season? 

No. 5 Texas 

Why they can win it: Texas has arguably its most talented team since 2005 under coach Steve Sarkisian. It's not just quarterback Arch Manning. Transfers Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown are proven talents, and the defense added linebacker Rasheem Biles from Pitt with edger Colin Simmons. Coelman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V give Manning an elite receiving trio. 

What we like most: Manning led Texas with 10 rushing TDs last season. Smothers and Brown combined to average 6.0 yards per carry this season. Manning will be even more dangerous behind that revamped rushing attack.

Biggest question: Will the offensive line match the skill-position talent? Manning took just five sacks in Texas' last five games –  but Preseason All-American tackle Trevor Goosby suffered a bone bruise in training camp.

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No. 6 Indiana 

Why they can win it: If you think Curt Cignetti was on your timeline last year – imagine the vibe if the Hoosiers go back-to-back this season. Remember, Indiana won by an average of 29.9 points per game last year. The addition of Josh Hoover, Turbo Richard and Nick Marsh via the transfer portal is simply the next exciting cast. Cignetti remains the main character. 

What we like most: Indiana returns four players who had at least 10 tackles for loss last season in Tyrique Tucker, Mario Landino, Rolijah Hardy. Isaiah Jones added seven sacks last season. The middle of the Hoosiers defense remains strong. 

Biggest question: Will the Hoosiers hit on QB portal roulette for a third straight season with Hoover?

MORE: SN's Big Board for 2027 NFL Draft

No. 7 Miami 

Why they can win it: Mario Cristobal built the Hurricanes into a contender from the inside out with stellar offensive and defensive lines – and the addition of Duke quarterback Darian Mensah – who led the ACC with 3,973 passing yards, 34 TDs and six interceptions – could turn into a Cam Ward redux. Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. also are back for an offense that averaged 30.9 points per game. 

What we like most: Even without Cam Vaughn – who was dismissed from the team – Toney, Duke transfer Cooper Barkate and Florida State transfer Vandrevius Jacobs are an elite group of receivers working with Mensah. 

Biggest question: Who replaces the pass-rush production left by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who combined for 22 sacks in 2025?

MORE: Seven most intriguing transfer QBs for 2026

Schools that can make the College Football Playoff

ACC

Teams: SMU, Louisville, Clemson 

No. 19 SMU and Clemson made the CFP in 2024. Will No. 24 Louisville be next? We like the Cardinals' sleeper value under Jeff Brohm. Each one of these teams faces a huge non-conference game. Clemson plays No. 11 LSU, and Louisville takes on Ole Miss in Week 1. SMU travels to Notre Dame on Nov. 21. There is room for a surprise team here, but those at-large opportunities are limited. 

Big 12

Teams: Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Houston 

Could No. 12 Texas Tech win a national championship this year? The defense should be good again – but Will Hammond is in a prove-it spot at quarterback. No. 14 BYU, No. 21 Utah and No. 23 Houston are all potential conference champions, and of those three teams we like the Cougars the most with sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin.  

Big Ten

Teams: USC, Michigan, Penn State, Washington, Iowa 

USC faces the most pressure among this group with Lincoln Riley in his fifth season. Michigan won nine games last season but has a brutal schedule with first-year coach Kyle Whittingham. No. 18 Penn State has a favorable schedule with first-year coach Matt Campbell that does not include Ohio State, Indiana or Oregon. No. 17 Washington and No. 22 Iowa are long-shots – and the winner of their Oct. 9 matchup at Husky Stadium might be in the mix in November. The Hawkeyes have a better look if they can win at Michigan on Sept. 26. 

SEC

Teams: Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama, Tennessee 

Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and LSU rank Nos. 8-11 in the AP Poll – and the Aggies, Sooners and Rebels return their starting QBs. Of those four, we trust Ole Miss with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and first-year coach Pete Golding the most. LSU has a brutal schedule under first-year coach Lane Kiffin. Alabama is a true wild card under third-year coach Kalen DeBoer and the team we were closest to making the eighth pick to win a national championship. If DeBoer finds the right QB and a reliable run game, watch out. The Vols are on the fringe of the CFP conversation. 

Which Group of 6 school will make the College Football Playoff?  

This is more wide open, but Boise State, Navy and UNLV were the only Group of 6 schools that received more than three votes in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll. The Broncos and Rebels played in the Mountain West Conference championship each of the past three seasons, but Boise State moved to the Pac-12. Keep an eye on North Dakota State – a perennial FCS powerhouse that makes the jump to Mountain West. Navy and Memphis are the favorites in the American Conference. James Madison (Sun Belt), Liberty (Conference USA) and Western Michigan (MAC) also are worth watching.