Cheech’s Preseason Top 25
These are my preseason Top 25 rankings heading into the season. I’ve considered roster talent, coaching, transfers, schedules, and each team’s overall ceiling. I’ll get plenty wrong, but that’s what makes college football so much fun.
1. Indiana
Until proven otherwise, I’m not betting against Curt Cignetti. Indiana retained both coordinators, is bringing in the No. 1 transfer class, and Coach Cig got his QB. Only Fernando Mendoza threw more RPOs than Josh Hoover. I’m all in on Indiana.
2. Notre Dame
Notre Dame is a guaranteed lock to make the playoffs with an absolute joke of a schedule. However, do not let the schedule fool you, this team is legit. I expect sophomore QB CJ Carr to take a leap after a stellar freshman season. Although they lost both running backs to the NFL Draft, the wide receiver room is greatly improved with the addition of Ohio State transfers Mylan Graham and Tracy Porter.
3. Oregon
This is the most complete roster in the country. Both sides of the ball are filled with elite talent, including last year’s likely No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. In addition to elite QB play, the Ducks have some of the best pass catchers in the country, including highly touted TE Jamari Johnson. The biggest concern for the Ducks is replacing both coordinators.
4. Ohio State
The Buckeyes look to improve on last season, in which they lost their final two games. This squad should feature an elite offense that is returning four offensive linemen, a Heisman finalist quarterback, and the best wide receiver in football. However, on the other side of the ball, they are replacing eight starters.
5. Georgia
Until someone else takes the crown, the SEC still runs through Athens. This is a classic Kirby Smart football team featuring an elite secondary headlined by SEC preseason All-Americans KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV. Additionally, a schedule in which the Dawgs miss Texas, Texas A&M, and LSU plays favorably.
6. Texas
After Oregon, this may be the most complete roster in college football. Arch Manning seemed to improve as the season went on, finishing the last six games of the season with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. In addition to Arch’s improvement, the Longhorns spent big to bring in key playmakers Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers. Finally, Sark is looking for help on the defensive side of the ball by bringing in two experienced defensive minds, Will Muschamp and Mark Stoops.
7. Miami
Although Miami lost four members of its offensive line, Mario Cristobal teams always seem to be elite on both sides of the trenches. That being said, Mario Cristobal teams also seem to always lose at least two games every year that they are heavily favored in. However, their offense should improve with the retention of WR Malachi Toney and the addition of QB Darian Mensah.
8. LSU
In all honesty, this is purely a Lane Kiffin pick. This is a brand-new team with 40 transfers and a QB who did not participate in spring practice. However, I believe Kiffin is one of the best coaches in the sport, and if anyone can put it together, it’s him. Look for QB Sam Leavitt to shoot up mock drafts.
9. Oklahoma
Oklahoma has one of the highest ceilings in the country, largely because of QB John Mateer, who looked like a legitimate Heisman contender before a thumb injury derailed his 2025 season. In addition to a potentially potent offense, Coach Venables will lead a stout defense that only allowed 15.5 points per game last season.
10. Texas A&M
Although a school-record 10 Aggies were selected in the NFL Draft, look for Texas A&M to remain one of the top programs in the SEC. Holmon Wiggins was promoted to full-time offensive coordinator, and look for him to elevate QB Marcel Reed. The Aggies have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, and if Reed takes that next step, this team has the roster to make a serious run at the SEC title.
11. Ole Miss
Ole Miss remains one of the most talented teams in the country, but 2026 is going to look very different after Lane Kiffin’s departure and the transition to seemingly unwanted leadership for Pete Golding. The Rebels still have enough returning talent and transfer additions to compete at the highest level. Ole Miss brings back two of the SEC’s biggest stars in QB Trinidad Chambliss and RB Kewan Lacy, both of whom are preseason conference first team All Americans.
12. Michigan
There seemed to be no one more consistent and more capable of doing more with less than Kyle Whittingham at Utah. Whittingham brought with him almost his entire coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Jason Beck who loves to utilize the QB run. This should greatly benefit QB Bryce Underwood who has great athletic ability.
13. Texas Tech
Texas Tech enters 2026 with some unnecessary drama after the Brendan Sorsby saga. But even without Sorsby, I think the Red Raiders have by far the best roster in the Big 12. Texas Tech returns an extremely talented group, including 7 preseason All-Big 12 selections. Similar to last year, the quarterback situation is the biggest question mark, but the talent gap between Texas Tech and the rest of the conference is significant enough that I still expect Joey McGuire’s team to be the favorite to win the Big 12.
14. BYU
BYU proved last season that it belongs in the national conversation, and there is plenty of reason to believe the Cougars weren’t a one-year fluke. They return enough experience and talent to remain one of the Big 12’s toughest teams, while Kalani Sitake has established a culture that consistently gets the most out of his roster. I wouldn’t be surprised if BYU is playing for a Big 12 title and a playoff berth in December.
15. Alabama
Alabama still has enough talent to remain one of the best teams in the country, but there are legitimate questions surrounding the Crimson Tide heading into 2026. The biggest concern is quarterback, where Alabama has to replace Ty Simpson, while also trying to fix a rushing attack that averaged just 104.1 yards per game (2nd to last in the SEC) last season. If Alabama can finally find some balance offensively, the defense and overall roster talent give them a very high ceiling. Until they prove they can run the football consistently, however, I have a hard time putting Alabama any higher than this.
16. Penn State
Penn State enters the season with one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football in Rocco Becht, who brings 39 career starts. Matt Campbell also brought a huge portion of his Iowa State program with him, including 24 former Cyclones and several members of his coaching staff, giving Penn State an unusual amount of familiarity in a first-year coaching situation. The Nittany Lions also benefit from a very favorable schedule, avoiding Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana, which gives them a clear path to a double-digit-win season.
17. Louisville
Louisville is one of my favorite potential risers, largely because Jeff Brohm has a proven track record of developing quarterbacks and turning programs around. He took Western Kentucky to a Conference USA championship and later led Purdue to the first Big Ten West title in program history, proving he can elevate programs that aren’t traditionally at the top of their conference. That track record, combined with his ability to develop quarterbacks, gives me a lot of confidence in Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz. Louisville also avoids Miami during the regular season, which could be huge in the ACC race. If Kienholz develops under Brohm and the Cardinals stay healthy, I think Louisville has a legitimate shot to compete for the ACC and make a push for the playoff.
18. USC
USC returns all five of its starting offensive linemen from last season, although starting center Kilian O’Connor is out for the season, which takes away some of that continuity. Gary Patterson taking over as defensive coordinator gives the Trojans a legitimate reason for optimism on that side of the ball, but I’m still low on USC until I see it. Lincoln Riley has had talented rosters before, and the defense has consistently been the biggest problem. I need to see USC actually play winning football against the Big Ten’s best before I’m ready to buy into them as a playoff team.
19. Tennessee
Tennessee’s offense has consistently been one of the highest-ranked units in the country under Josh Heupel, and that should keep the Vols’ ceiling high in 2026. They also made a major addition on defense by hiring Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator, giving Tennessee a proven defensive mind to pair with Heupel’s elite offensive system. The two biggest concerns for me are the inexperienced quarterback situation and a brutal SEC schedule, which could make it difficult for Tennessee to consistently stack wins. I could realistically see this team finishing anywhere from 7–5 to 10–2
20. Washington
Washington has a legitimate star at quarterback in Demond Williams Jr., who returns for his junior season after showing flashes of being one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Jedd Fisch is also a major reason for optimism, as he has steadily rebuilt the Huskies after inheriting a program that had been gutted by the coaching and conference changes, and 2026 is his third season in Seattle.
21. SMU
SMU has quickly established itself as a legitimate annual ACC contender, and the biggest reason for optimism in 2026 is experienced QB Kevin Jennings, who returns after throwing for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The Mustangs have enough talent and athleticism to compete with the top of the conference, and Rhett Lashlee has built a program that plays with plenty of confidence. The biggest concern is replacing both coordinators and whether Jennings can cut down on the interceptions.
22. Iowa
Iowa is going to be Iowa: physical, disciplined and capable of making every game miserable for its opponent. The Hawkeyes’ defense and running game should give them a high floor, and their ability to win ugly makes them particularly dangerous in the Big Ten. The obvious weakness is the passing game, because eventually Iowa has to be able to throw the ball when it faces teams capable of stopping the run.
23. Houston
Houston has a chance to surprise in the Big 12, especially with QB Conner Weigman returning after playing the best football of his career last season. The Cougars have enough offensive talent to create problems for anyone, and Willie Fritz has the program trending in the right direction.
24. Arizona
Arizona has one of the biggest reasons for optimism in the Big 12 with first-team All-Big 12 QB Noah Fifita returning for his final season. Fifita threw for 3,228 yards and a program-record 29 touchdowns last year, and Brent Brennan has shown a tendency to improve the Wildcats each year, going from 4–8 in his first season to 9–4 last year. If Brennan continues that upward trend and Fifita plays at an All-American level, Arizona has a real chance to challenge for the top of the Big 12. It also doesn’t hurt to have Josh Bringuel as your linebackers coach.
25. Boise State
Boise state has been one of the more consistent programs in college football, and that continuity persists with coach Spencer Danielson entering his third season and QB Maddux Madsen entering his fifth. The Broncos are coming off three straight Mountain West championships, and while they are moving into the new-look Pac-12 in 2026, that recent track record gives me plenty of confidence in them. If Boise State looks competent against Oregon and can win out the rest of the way, I think they are the overwhelming favorite to earn the CFP’s Group of Six automatic bid.