The Japan Times - Ohio State Leads 2026 Preseason College Football Top 25

The 2026 college football season opens after a year in which Indiana completed the modern era’s first 16-0 campaign, Miami reached the national championship game without winning the ACC and Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss during the College Football Playoff. The new preseason picture places Ohio State first, followed by Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia and defending champion Indiana.

1. Ohio State: Quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and receiver Jeremiah Smith give the Buckeyes a leading offensive trio. A defense that allowed a national-best 9.3 points per game lost Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, but Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Payton Pierce and Jermaine Mathews Jr. offer breakout potential. Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro and former Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. bolster the unit.

2. Oregon: Dante Moore chose another college season over entering the NFL draft as a likely top-three selection. He returns alongside a defense that brings back All-Big Ten performers A’Mauri Washington, Brandon Finney Jr., Bear Alexander, Teitum Tuioti and Koi Perich.

3. Notre Dame: The Irish enter the season motivated by last year’s playoff exclusion. Quarterback CJ Carr begins his second year as starter and is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Although running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are gone, eight defensive starters return, including AP All-American cornerback Leonard Moore.

4. Georgia: Kirby Smart’s program has won at least 11 games and reached the SEC title game in each of the past eight complete seasons. Quarterback Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier and cornerback Ellis Robinson IV are among 14 returning starters.

5. Indiana: Coach Curt Cignetti has emphasized focus after the unbeaten championship run. Indiana lost a program-record eight players to the NFL draft but added quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU, running back Turbo Richard from Boston College, receiver Nick Marsh from Michigan State, lineman Joe Brunner from Wisconsin and cornerback A.J. Harris from Penn State.

6. Texas: Arch Manning now has a full year of starting experience. Steve Sarkisian added Auburn receiver Cam Coleman, running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, and Michigan State tight end Michael Masunas. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp takes over a talented group led by Colin Simmons.

7. Miami: Duke transfer Darian Mensah follows Cam Ward and Carson Beck as Miami’s latest incoming quarterback. The ACC preseason player of the year joins returning receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher Jr., while Duke receiver Cooper Barkate also transferred to the Hurricanes.

8. Ole Miss: A Mississippi court injunction granted quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility, and the state Supreme Court declined the NCAA’s petition challenging the ruling. Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy return after taking the Rebels to the national semifinals.

9. Texas A&M: The Aggies won 11 games last season but now face road dates at LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma and home games against Tennessee and Texas. Quarterback Marcel Reed and receiver Mario Craver return for coach Mike Elko.

10. LSU: Kiffin moved from Ole Miss to LSU during the playoff and then assembled the country’s top transfer class according to 247Sports. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton lead a group that includes several former Rebels. LSU visits Ole Miss on September 19.

11. Oklahoma: Quarterback John Mateer returns after a broken bone in his throwing hand disrupted the 2025 season. Receivers Trell Harris from Virginia and Parker Livingstone from Texas join an offense backed by a veteran defense that ranked seventh nationally at 15.5 points allowed per game.

12. Texas Tech: Florida State transfer Tommy Castellanos arrived 10 days before the opener after receiving temporary fifth-year eligibility through litigation in Kentucky. He begins behind Will Hammond, who is returning from a torn ACL. The reigning Big 12 champion added the sixth-ranked transfer class in the country.

13. BYU: Only Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Oregon have more wins over the past two seasons. Kalani Sitake stayed at his alma mater rather than taking the Penn State job. The Cougars return Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year LJ Martin, dual-threat quarterback Bear Bachmeier and defensive standouts Keanu Tanuvasa, Cade Uluave, Evan Johnson and Faletau Satuala.

14. Washington: Junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. produced 31 touchdowns last season and remained with the Huskies after considering a transfer. Receiver Dezmen Roebuck and leading tackler Alex McLaughlin also return, but the schedule includes Oregon, Indiana, USC and Penn State.

15. Michigan: New coach Kyle Whittingham faces road games at Oregon and Ohio State and home dates with Iowa, Penn State and Indiana. Quarterback Bryce Underwood stayed in Ann Arbor, while Whittingham brought All-Big 12 selections John Henry Daley and Smith Snowden from Utah.

16. Alabama: Kalen DeBoer is 20-8 over two seasons and has a contract through January 2033. Expectations remain high in Tuscaloosa. The secondary could be the team’s strength, with all five starters back, including preseason All-SEC selections Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard.

17. USC: Lincoln Riley’s Trojans are 24-15 over three seasons and 11-7 since joining the Big Ten. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan and the full offensive line return. Former TCU coach Gary Patterson, 66, takes over as defensive coordinator.

18. Penn State: Former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell succeeded James Franklin after Penn State first pursued Sitake. Campbell brought several Cyclones to State College, including quarterback Rocco Becht and defensive back Jeremiah Cooper.

19. Tennessee: New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles arrived with several players from Penn State. Five-star freshman Faizon Brandon beat sophomore George MacIntyre for the starting quarterback role, giving Josh Heupel a young leader for an otherwise promising roster.

20. Utah: Morgan Scalley replaced Whittingham after 18 years on his staff, including a decade as defensive coordinator. Utah ranked 17th in scoring defense last season at 18.9 points per game. Quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker stayed with the Utes.

21. Iowa: The Hawkeyes again lean on the running game and defense. All-American interior lineman Kade Pieper, leading rusher Kamari Moulton and experienced linebacker Jayden Montgomery provide continuity.

22. SMU: Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown 49 touchdown passes over two seasons. Offensive linemen Josh Bates and P.J. Williams return, while linebackers Alexander Kilgore and Brandon Booker lead the defense. Safety Ahmaad Moses is seeking a fifth year of eligibility.

23. Houston: Willie Fritz’s team improved by six wins in his second season. Quarterback Conner Weigman and receiver Amare Thomas combined for 12 touchdowns last year, and defensive back Will James returns after recording five pass breakups and three interceptions.

24. Louisville: The Cardinals avoid Clemson and Miami in the regular season and could challenge for the ACC. Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and Vanderbilt receiver Tre Richardson headline the transfer class, while Clev Lubin returns after an 8.5-sack season to anchor the defense.

25. Clemson: The Tigers begin outside the AP preseason poll for the first time in 15 years. All-ACC defenders Will Heldt and Sammy Brown lead the front seven, and receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. offers high-end potential after a spinal injury cut short his 2025 campaign.

The ranking points to a playoff race that includes the established powers and several programs reshaped by transfers, coaching moves and eligibility decisions. Ohio State’s balance puts it at the top, while Oregon, Notre Dame and Georgia begin close behind and Indiana attempts to repeat an unprecedented season.

S.Fujimoto--JT