Ranking 138 college football teams for 2026, from Indiana and Ohio State to Sac State and UMass

Welcome back to college football, which is once again bigger than ever at its top level.

There were no seismic changes to the sport this offseason — no major realignment rumblings, no expanded College Football Playoff, no laws passed in Congress — and the games have finally returned. The Football Bowl Subdivision did add two new programs, growing these rankings to 138 teams. Welcome, North Dakota State and Sacramento State, and welcome back to the Pac-12, which relaunches as an eight-team football conference.

I started these rankings in 2017, when the FBS was a mere 130 teams, because I enjoy all parts of college football, whether that’s Ohio State-Texas or Conference USA on a weekday. Everyone’s a fan of someone, and a poll that stops at 25 leaves out most of the sport.

Yes, this is a subjective exercise, though I do look at advanced rankings and take them into account. As the season goes on, I adjust based on whom teams have played and whom they’ve beaten. When two teams are close, their head-to-head result is the foundational pillar of their ranking (Notre Dame never jumped Miami here last year). The selection committee could take note.

The rankings will change, sometimes rapidly, as results come in and preseason priors are dismissed, but it usually takes a few weeks for everyone to get enough data points to draw initial conclusions. Everything works itself out by the end of the year.

Two years ago, I started Ohio State at No. 1, and the Buckeyes won it all. Last year, I had Penn State at No. 1, and the Nittany Lions finished 50th. You win some, you lose some.

Week 0 is here, so let’s get into it. For just this preseason edition, I will have a comment for every team.

1. Indiana: The defending national champs are disrespected by their No. 6 ranking in the preseason coaches and AP polls. Would that have happened if a different logo were on the helmet? Additions like running back Turbo Richard and receiver Nick Marsh will help new quarterback Josh Hoover. The Hoosiers remain the team to beat.

2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes will be in the mix as always with so much talent, but I have some questions about a defense that lost so much and an offense that struggled in the biggest games a year ago.

3. Georgia: The defense and running game should return to form. I just wonder whether the Dawgs can find the explosive plays they lacked in 2025.

4. Oregon: The Ducks might have the best quarterback and defensive line in the country. Six of Dan Lanning’s eight losses as a head coach have come against teams that played for the national title. The pieces are here to get over the hump.

5. Notre Dame: The Irish return the most production in the FBS and may have the best defense, but will enough playmakers emerge at running back and receiver? Another weak schedule leaves little room for error.

6. Texas: Probably the highest ceiling in the country if Arch Manning, Cam Coleman and company can put it all together. But we saw last year’s floor turn out to be lower than expected.

7. Miami (Fla.): The Canes might be better at quarterback and the skill positions than their CFP runner-up squad, but they lost a lot in the trenches.

8. LSU: Lane Kiffin has all the talent he could ask for. Can he tie it all together in his first season in charge?

9. Texas Tech: If quarterback Will Hammond is healthy, the defense and running game are more than enough for the Red Raiders to run through the Big 12.

10. Oklahoma: The defense should be strong again, but can the Sooners run the ball to help quarterback John Mateer?

11. BYU: Second-year quarterback Bear Bachmeier had a full offseason in the system, and the defense reloaded. The Cougars have finished just outside the CFP the last two seasons, but that could change this year.

12. Ole Miss: Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy might be the best QB-RB duo in the country. Can that make up for new pieces almost everywhere else?

13. Texas A&M: Quarterback Marcel Reed is back with a good group of skill-position players around him, but the Aggies had to rebuild in the trenches.

14. USC: Quarterback Jayden Maiava has a new receiving corps, but my question is whether new coordinator Gary Patterson can elevate the defense against the Trojans’ tough schedule.

15. Alabama: The Tide have to fix last year’s rushing issues … while breaking in a new QB.

16. Michigan: The Wolverines won nine games last year amid major coaching turmoil. Can the steady hand of Kyle Whittingham get them back to the Playoff? More specifically, will enough receivers emerge to help second-year quarterback Bryce Underwood?

17. SMU: Quarterback Kevin Jennings has a new group of receivers, but the Mustangs are deeper almost everywhere else than a year ago.

18. Louisville: If running back Isaac Brown is healthy and transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz can live up to his recruiting hype, the Cardinals could get to the ACC title game.

19. Houston: Willie Fritz always figures it out. The veteran coach has quarterback Conner Weigman back and talented running back Makhi Hughes (who played for him at Tulane, then left for Oregon) back in the fold.

20. Tennessee: If the new quarterback can just play OK, there are enough pieces everywhere else for a big year, though I’m worried about the season-ending injuries the defense has sustained in August.

21. Boise State: The Broncos return a rare load of experience for a Group of 6 team, but the schedule is daunting, including their new Pac-12 slate.

22. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys, who haven’t won a Big 12 game since 2023, imported everything from a North Texas team that had last season’s No. 1 offense and nearly made the CFP. This might be the biggest postseason-to-preseason jump we’ve seen in these rankings. Will it hold up?

23. Washington: Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. will have a strong offensive line in front of him, but skill players need to step up.

24. Iowa: Even with turnover on defense and at quarterback, the Hawkeyes always figure it out. They are one of five teams to win at least eight games in every non-pandemic-altered season since 2015 (Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia are the others).

25. Navy: A lot of experience and speedy quarterback Braxton Woodson could lead to a Playoff berth.

26. Utah: A new era with coach Morgan Scalley includes returning quarterback Devon Dampier, but it’s concerning to rely on completely new offensive and defensive lines.

27. TCU: Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig takes over, but success will depend on the trenches, which should be a strength, and avoiding turnovers.

28. Arizona: Talented quarterback Noah Fifita is back after a nine-win season. Can the Wildcats’ new faces on the offensive line and secondary hold up against a difficult schedule?

29. Penn State: New coach Matt Campbell brought over most of Iowa State’s best players, including quarterback Rocco Becht. That continuity should help make the most of a favorable draw in Big Ten play.

30. Illinois: Coming off the first consecutive nine-win seasons in school history, Bret Bielema hands the reins to East Carolina transfer quarterback Katin Houser. Will new offensive and defensive lines hold up?

31. Florida: New coach Jon Sumrall kept many of Florida’s top players. How will quarterback Aaron Philo and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner handle their new surroundings after coming in from Georgia Tech? Sumrall has won three conference titles in four years as a head coach.

32. South Carolina: Shane Beamer made drastic changes to fix a terrible offensive line. If it works, the top-end stars are still here to contend in quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart.

33. Clemson: Both sides of the ball lost a lot this spring, including nine players drafted from a 7-6 team. Who will take over at quarterback, and can the running game get anything going?

34. Virginia: Coming off an ACC title game appearance, Tony Elliott has a good amount of talent at his disposal again, including quarterback Beau Pribula and running back Peyton Lewis.

35. Missouri: Austin Simmons takes over at quarterback, and star running back Ahmad Hardy is working his way back to the field after being shot in the leg. The schedule does the Tigers no favors.

36. Auburn: New coach Alex Golesh brought quarterback Byrum Brown and other key players from South Florida. How will Brown and the up-tempo offense handle weekly SEC competition?

37. Cal: The school is taking football seriously, retaining star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and adding a slew of productive players around him at running back and wide receiver. I’m intrigued.

38. Pitt: Quarterback Mason Heintschel returns after a breakthrough debut, but he’ll need some skill-position players to emerge. A favorable early schedule could lead to a strong start.

39. Minnesota: Quarterback Drake Lindsey has impressed scouts and has an experienced group around him, but the offense must create more explosive plays.

40. Georgia Tech: Do-everything quarterback Haynes King is gone, but Michigan transfer Justice Haynes leads what should be another strong ground attack. Can the defense return to the level at which it was playing before last year’s late collapse?

41. New Mexico: The Lobos won nine games in Jason Eck’s first year as coach, finishing tied atop the Mountain West, and they return many of last season’s top players, including linebacker Jaxton Eck.

42. James Madison: Billy Napier takes over a team coming off a CFP appearance but with a load of new players. Watch out for running back George Pettaway.

43. San Diego State: The Aztecs won nine games last season on the back of their defense, but head coach Sean Lewis’ offense must improve in the new Pac-12.

44. UNLV: Dan Mullen took the Rebels to the Mountain West Championship Game a year ago. Can he pull off another successful quarterback rehabilitation with Jackson Arnold?

45. Arizona State: The Sun Devils should be strong in the trenches, but a slew of new transfers will need to mesh, including new quarterback Cutter Boley.

46. Kansas State: Collin Klein returns to his alma mater as head coach, hoping to finally pull out the potential from quarterback Avery Johnson. The Wildcats’ schedule avoids the Big 12’s toughest teams.

47. Virginia Tech: James Franklin brought a lot of Penn State contributors with him, including quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Franklin will try to elevate Virginia Tech the same way he did Penn State, without the same expectations.

48. NC State: Quarterback CJ Bailey had a handful of former high school teammates transfer in to join the offense. Duke Scott could break out as the new No. 1 running back.

49. Florida State: With perhaps the hottest coaching seat in the country, Mike Norvell will rely on quarterback Ashton Daniels. He still has good players on his roster, however, including receiver Duce Robinson.

50. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons surprised everyone with nine wins last year. New quarterback Gio Lopez should provide the offense with more options.

51. Vanderbilt: Replacing Diego Pavia might be impossible, but five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will try amid a lot of other roster turnover.

52. UTSA: Quarterback Owen McCown returns with a lot of weapons around him, and the Roadrunners could make an American Conference run while many of the league’s recent contenders start over with new coaches.

53. Tulane: Will Hall takes over as head coach, hoping to provide continuity after a Playoff run. There are questions all over, but the defense should be the strength of this team.

54. Wisconsin: Coach Luke Fickell enters on the hot seat, but Old Dominion transfer quarterback Colton Joseph can provide a spark, and a defense that was legitimately good last year should still be solid.

55. Baylor: DJ Lagway takes over at quarterback, but the Bears have an entirely new cast of skill players around him. Dave Aranda’s defense must improve, or else a coaching change could be coming.

56. Western Michigan: Last year’s MAC champions won 10 of their last 11 games and return their top offensive players, including quarterback Broc Lowry and 1,000-yard rusher Jalen Buckley.

57. Fresno State: Matt Entz won nine games here a year ago, and the Bulldogs will lean on a strong running game again.

58. Nebraska: The Huskers have the third-most returning production in the country but new starters at quarterback and running back, as well as a new defensive coordinator. Can Anthony Colandrea make big plays and avoid turnovers in the Big Ten?

59. Duke: The defending ACC champions will lean on running back Nate Sheppard, but the defense must improve, and the quarterback spot remains a question.

60. Northwestern: David Braun has brought stability. Can new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback Aidan Chiles finally provide an offensive spark?

61. South Florida: Brian Hartline took over and brought in the No. 1 portal class in the G6, including quarterback Michael Van Buren.

62. Memphis: Charles Huff has won at Marshall and Southern Miss and now inherits a Memphis team with a high floor. Former touted recruit Air Noland has been battling for the starting quarterback job.

63. West Virginia: Oklahoma transfer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and Jacksonville State transfer running back Cam Cook could make this look like the Rich Rodriguez offenses of old.

64. Kentucky: New coach Will Stein added a bunch of interesting offensive pieces, including quarterback Kenny Minchey and running back CJ Baxter.

65. UCLA: New coach Bob Chesney kept quarterback Nico Iamaleava and brought a crowd with him from James Madison, including electric running back Wayne Knight.

66. Army: Quarterback Cale Hellums is back to anchor what is always a strong rushing attack, but the defense replaces eight starters.

67. Hawaii: The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a surprise nine-win season, but quarterback Micah Alejado needs to stay healthy.

68. Mississippi State: Quarterback Kamario Taylor is a strong building block, but most of the rest of the offense will be new and the schedule is tough.

69. UCF: JMU transfer Alonza Barnett III takes the reins of the offense, supported by talent at wide receiver and a defense that was solid last season.

70. Cincinnati: Georgia Southern transfer quarterback JC French IV will work behind a strong offensive line, but the Bearcats will rely on transfer receivers and new defensive faces.

71. North Dakota State: The FBS newcomer has a long history of beating FBS teams and could contend in the Mountain West, but it must replace a ton of pieces from last year’s more talented team.

72. Michigan State: Pat Fitzgerald is back on a college sideline and wants to create a foundational toughness, but the roster lacks difference makers.

73. Maryland: A talented class of freshmen alongside quarterback Malik Washington is back for Year 2, but receivers need to emerge. The defense also just lost star edge rusher Zahir Mathis for the season.

74. Kansas: The offense replaces almost everything and is still waiting on quarterback clarity. Could running back Dylan Edwards find his old form here?

75. North Carolina: Maybe offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino can conjure a spark for Bill Belichick. The defense got better late in the 2025 season.

76. Arkansas: New coach Ryan Silverfield has decent running backs and an offensive line with upside. Still, quarterback questions and a brutal schedule set up an uphill climb.

77. Colorado: Deion Sanders brought in Brennan Marion to run the offense, plus a bunch of lower-level transfers with experience and production. There’s some potential here.

78. Syracuse: A healthy Steve Angeli should help, but new running backs and receivers and a rebuilt offense make for a lot of non-QB questions.

79. Rutgers: Running back Antwan Raymond and receiver KJ Duff are good players, but a struggling defense has to replace everyone.

80. East Carolina: The Pirates lost a lot of talent to the portal, but transfer quarterback Emory Williams from Miami and offensive coordinator Jordan Davis from North Texas could make for an interesting combination.

81. Troy: Last year’s Sun Belt West champions bring back oft-injured quarterback Goose Crowder and enough pieces from a defense that became one of the conference’s best.

82. Texas State: The Bobcats are coming off three consecutive bowl games, and quarterback Brad Jackson looks like a rising star. Now the defense has to get some stops.

83. Washington State: With a third head coach in as many years, there’s turnover aplenty. UC Davis transfer quarterback Caden Pinnick could shine after earning FCS freshman All-America honors.

84. Miami (Ohio): Coming off three consecutive MAC Championship Game appearances, the RedHawks need to replace much of their starting skill positions. To do so, they brought in the MAC’s No. 1 portal class, including 1,800-yard rusher Rodney Nelson.

85. Old Dominion: The Monarchs have to replace almost everything, but ODU might have a budding star in running back Devin Roche.

86. Liberty: The Flames added running backs Kanye Udoh (Arizona State) and Kam Davis (Florida State) from the portal and should have a better rushing attack for coach Jamey Chadwell, who is in better health after January surgery.

87. Temple: KC Keeler nearly got Temple to a bowl game in Year 1. Penn State transfer QB Jaxon Smolik expects to take over behind center.

88. North Texas: It’s a completely new team, but first-year coach Neal Brown has former West Virginia running back Jaheim White to lean on.

89. Western Kentucky: Tyson Helton always has his team in the CUSA mix. QB Rodney Tisdale Jr. is back, and the run game will be completely new, as will much of the defense.

90. Kennesaw State: The defending CUSA champs lost a lot, but coach Jerry Mack has a track record of figuring things out. How will transfer Rickie Collins look taking over at QB?

91. Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks reached the CUSA title game in Charles Kelly’s first season and bring back veteran starting QB Caden Creel and a veteran secondary.

92. Central Michigan: The Chippewas built a powerful running game under first-year coach Matt Drinkall, who came from Army, and that’s the recipe again. The defense replaces a lot from a top-60 group.

93. Toledo: New coach Mike Jacobs brings a winning track record at multiple stops, as well as some talented players like defensive end Andrew Zock, who won the FCS defensive player of the year award at Mercer.

94. Stanford: Tavita Pritchard takes over as head coach, and former Michigan QB Davis Warren is expected to start. Running back Micah Ford is the bright spot, and the defense at least has some experience.

95. Boston College: BC hopes Division II Saginaw Valley State QB Mason McKenzie is the next Trinidad Chambliss, and he’ll lead an entirely new offense. It will not help that talented tight end Kaelan Chudzinski is out for the year.

96. Ohio: John Hauser is the third straight Ohio coach promoted into the job. The defense should be one of the MAC’s best. The Bobcats are always in the mix in this league and probably will be again.

97. Purdue: Quarterback Ryan Browne and linebacker Charles Correa are back, but another large group of transfers will determine whether there’s any improvement from last year’s 2-10 season.

98. Iowa State: This is very much starting over at the bottom. Just 13 total starts return after much of the roster followed Matt Campbell to Penn State. New coach Jimmy Rogers brought 12 players from Washington State’s defense.

99. Delaware: The Blue Hens reached a bowl in their first FBS season and brought back CUSA preseason offensive player of the year QB Nick Minicucci.

100. FIU: Willie Simmons won seven games in his first season, then had to replace a lot. JJ Kohl, the Panthers’ 6-foot-7 QB transfer from Appalachian State, was a good addition.

101. Marshall: QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has a lot of pieces back for what should be one of the Sun Belt’s top offenses.

102. UConn: New coach Jason Candle from Toledo has a completely new team, which includes former Tennessee QB Jake Merklinger. The defense did add several productive transfers.

103. Georgia Southern: QB Max Johnson is here for his seventh season of college football, for a team that lost all 11 offensive starters. The defense was one of the nation’s worst last year and went through a coaching and personnel overhaul.

104. Utah State: The Aggies went 6-7 last year despite finishing 36th in scoring offense and defense. Talented running back Javen Jacobs is back, while the defense has a good bit of returning experience.

105. Air Force: After consecutive losing seasons, the Falcons may get back to winning ways with QB Liam Szarka and an experienced defense coming back.

106. Arkansas State: The wide receiver and offensive line groups could be solid if a quarterback emerges for Butch Jones, who has reached three consecutive bowls.

107. Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs jumped up to eight wins last year and brought back quarterback Blake Baker off an ACL injury. This is a veteran team that moves into the Sun Belt.

108. Eastern Michigan: The Eagles have the most returning production in the MAC, including QB Noah Kim, but the defense must improve.

109. Buffalo: The defense should carry this team again as the offense figures out starters at key spots.

110. Florida Atlantic: QB Caden Veltkamp is back after throwing for more than 3,600 yards last year, so the offense will be fun, but the defense has to show some sign of life. The Owls also had a remarkable minus-21 turnover margin last year, eight turnovers worse than the next team.

111. Tulsa: Quarterback Baylor Hayes provides upside and cornerback Elijah Green is one of the best defensive players in the conference.

112. Appalachian State: A second straight offseason of heavy roster turnover hopes to bring in the right pieces, like former Purdue/Arkansas QB Malachi Singleton. A proud program needs to turn the ship around.

113. Louisiana: QB Lunch Winfield could eat with most of the offense around him coming back. Last year’s team closed the regular season with four consecutive wins. Can the momentum continue?

114. Rice: Former UCF QB Jacurri Brown should be a better fit for this option offense, alongside running back Quinton Jackson.

115. Colorado State: Former Oklahoma State QB Hauss Hejny leads a completely new offense for new head coach Jim Mora.

116. Oregon State: New coach JaMarcus Shephard has QB Maalik Murphy as a building block, but this is another turned-over roster following a 2-10 season.

117. New Mexico State: The Aggies added a couple of interesting skill pieces in running back James Jones from Delaware State and tight end Josiah Thomas from Western Carolina. But they were one of the worst rushing teams in the country last year.

118. Coastal Carolina: New head coach Ryan Beard has more than 50 newcomers and replaces the entire starting offense. The defense held onto linebackers Se’Von McDowell and Tray Brown.

119. Missouri State: The Bears lost Beard and a few NFL players. New head coach Casey Woods starts over with former UTEP QB Skyler Locklear.

120. South Alabama: This team should be able to score with QB Bishop Davenport back. Todd Orlando looks to turn around a struggling defense.

121. Ball State: Coach Mike Uremovich added beef from the portal to fix an offensive line that allowed 49 sacks over 12 games.

122. Bowling Green: Former Oregon QB Austin Novosad is here, and running back Austyn Dendy could be an emerging star.

123. Akron: Running back Jordan Gant will carry the load of this team, while Reese Poffenbarger could take over at QB.

124. Kent State: A surprise 5-7 season won interim coach Mark Carney the full-time job. QB Dru DeShields is a good building block, but the lines could be an issue.

125. Nevada: After consecutive three-win seasons for coach Jeff Choate, the offensive line should be a strength, but the Wolf Pack’s QB battle lasted throughout camp.

126. Southern Miss: Promoted head coach Blake Anderson has a winning track record at Arkansas State and Utah State, but he has to replace most of the team again.

127. San Jose State: After falling to 3-9 last year, both sides of the ball have been overhauled. Hawaii transfer QB Luke Weaver is taking over behind center.

128. Wyoming: It’s been a long time since Wyoming had an above-average offense to match a strong defense. New offensive coordinator Christian Taylor from William & Mary hopes to change that.

129. UAB: Quarterback Ryder Burton and a deep running back room provide optimism on offense for coach Alex Mortensen, who was promoted after the season.

130. Middle Tennessee: The top players on both sides of the ball are gone as Derek Mason enters Year 3 after consecutive 3-9 seasons. QB Roman Gagliano played well to close last season and takes over.

131. Northern Illinois: The Huskies move to the Mountain West and have interim coach Rob Harley for the season. No defensive starters return from a solid unit, while the offense is also going through a reset.

132. Louisiana-Monroe: There’s potential at quarterback but a bevy of new faces everywhere again.

133. UTEP: Incarnate Word QB EJ Colson was a big portal pickup that could give the Miners some life.

134. Sam Houston: The Bearkats dropped to 2-10 last year, but they’ll be back in their home stadium after more than a year of renovation.

135. Georgia State: The Panthers added 34 transfers after a 1-11 season, but returning QB Cameran Brown provides some upside.

136. Charlotte: The 49ers went 1-11 last year and were winless against FBS teams. The hope is coaching familiarity can provide some stability.

137. Sacramento State: Sac State’s shocking FBS move also comes with a new coach, with Alonzo Carter taking over for the departed Brennan Marion. The offense will be made up of transfers, including former Fresno State QB Carson Conklin.

138. UMass: The Minutemen went 0-12 and finished 134th in scoring offense and defense last year. Like everyone else, there are a bunch of new players, including QB William Watson III from Virginia Tech. With two FCS teams on the schedule this year, hopefully UMass will have something to celebrate.