The initial USA Today Coaches Poll was released today with the first Top 25 rankings of the year for the 2026 college football season.
Indiana returns to defend it’s first football national championship and makes a solid entry into the Top 10 to start the season.
1. Ohio State
Ohio State is back high up the Coaches Poll as well as in the national championship conversation. With QB Julian Sayin, WR Jeremiah Smith and RB Bo Jackson back, the offense is one of the best in the country, if not the best. It’ll be on the defense to replace a lot of NFL-bound talent this fall. But with transfers such as LB Qua Russaw (Alabama), the Buckeyes might certainly make up for it when it comes to having a fast and attacking defense.
2. Oregon
Is it now or never for Oregon? It seems so and the Coaches Poll rankings agree with that sentiment. QB Dante Moore elected to return rather than go to the NFL Draft and Dan Lanning fine tuned a loaded roster.
WR Evan Stewart is healthy, as well as young star Dakorien Moore, giving Oregon an elite pass catching duo. On the flip side, Bear Alexander and Matayo Uiagalelei are a fearsome pairing on the defensive line. They could be one of the Big Ten’s best.
3. Georgia
Kirby Smart and Georgia are still hanging around in the top end of the Coaches Poll, as well as the national title conversation. It’s hard to deny that when they retool their roster every year.
Gunner Stockton highlights the returners at QB, giving them stability at the most important position. RB Nate Frazier is also an exciting skill guy on the offensive side of the ball. LB Raylen Wilson and CB Ellis Robinson IV highlight the defense as well. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention safety KJ Bolden.
4. Texas
Texas brings a lot to the table in 2026, highlighted by QB Arch Manning under center. The Coaches Poll highlights the best of the best, and the Longhorns are in that conversation.Steve Sarkisian has a lot of weapons at his disposal in order to make a run at a national title. After missing out on the CFP in 2025, Texas will go as far as Manning and Sark take them this fall and winter.
5. Notre Dame
After missing out on last year’s CFP with a 10-2 record, the preseason Coaches Poll has Notre Dame firmly in that race for 2026. At least, at the start! There’s no question the Fighting Irish have the talent and the staff led by Marcus Freeman to win it all. The Fighting Irish came up short against Ohio State two years ago, but now bring back QB CJ Carr, RB Aneyas Williams is stepping up and Jordan Faison is back at WR. CB Leonard Moore is one of the best overall defenders in college football and he’ll be a blanket in coverage all season long.
6. Indiana
Indiana is another Big Ten team high up the Coaches Poll to start the year. The reigning national championships had a lot of roster turnover, but there were some key returners to the 2026 squad. Either way, Curt Cignetti knows how to coach, Google him. Josh Hoover takes over at QB coming in from TCU, WR Nick Marsh from Michigan State and Turbo Richard at RB, who came from Boston College. Throw in veteran Carter Smith at OT and fellow WR Charlie Becker, there are some title holders from last year ready to run it back.
7. Miami
Miami has a chance to return to the national championship this season after nearly knocking off an undefeated Indiana squad in 2025. Hence why they are high up the Coaches Poll rankings ahead of kickoff in 2026. Mario Cristobal landed QB Darian Mensah in the transfer portal after a great year at Duke. WR Malachi Toney enters his sophomore year and is one of the most exciting players in the sport. RB Mark Fletcher rounds out that trio. On defense, Mohamed Toure, a rare 7th year player, starts at linebacker again and is NFL caliber after a comeback season last year.
8. Texas A&M
Mike Elko only needed a second season to elevate Texas A&M to the CFP and be a perennial top 10 team in the Coaches Poll as well. He gets QB Marcel Reed back this season as the Aggies look to return to the dance and make a deeper run. WR Mario Craver is back as well as RB Reuben Owens. It’ll be interesting to see how the offensive line gels, considering there are four transfers in this year that are projected to start in 2026.
9. Oklahoma
The Sooners hope a healthy John Mateer can lead them back to the CFP in 2026. Brent Venables finally had some things click last year, but Mateer’s injury and a home playoff loss to Alabama left a sour taste in their mouths.
Still, with a ferocious defense and a healthy quarterback, the Sooners should be an SEC contender this fall. Doing so will put them back into playoff positioning and certainly hang around rival Texas, which is a fellow contender.
10. Ole Miss
Ole Miss is still a top 10 team in the Coaches Poll, despite losing Lane Kiffin and some players to LSU. The Rebels can run it back under Pete Golding, who guided the ship to the CFP semifinals last year and nearly did enough to beat Miami for a trip to the national championship. Trinidad Chambliss was granted a sixth year and returns at QB. He has his backfield mate in RB Kewan Lacy as well, making them one of the best duos in the country. The only question is, did Ole Miss peak last year or can they be even better this fall?
The Rest of the Top 25
11. Alabama
12. Texas Tech
13. LSU
14. USC
15. BYU
16. Michigan
17. Penn State
18. Tennessee
19. Washington
20. SMU
21. Utah
22. Iowa
23. Clemson
24. Houston
25. Missouri
Others receiving votes: Louisville 153; Florida 147; TCU 63; Illinois 62; South Carolina 50; Arizona 50; Virginia 40; Vanderbilt 37; Auburn 29; Georgia Tech 26; Boise State 24; Oklahoma State 22; UNLV 17; North Carolina State 13; Florida State 13; Virginia Tech 12; Nebraska 12; Memphis 9; Arizona State 8; James Madison 6; Duke 6; Pittsburgh 4; New Mexico 4; Western Michigan 3; Navy 3; San Diego State 2; Kansas State 1; Jacksonville State 1; Hawaii 1; California 1;
