2026 Preseason College Football Power Rankings: Ohio State Leads ESPN’s Top 25

The 2026 college football season is almost here, and ESPN has released its preseason Power Rankings ahead of the opening weekend.

Ohio State enters the season at No. 1 after finishing 2025 with a 12-2 record and a perfect 9-0 mark in Big Ten play. Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas complete the top five.

The season officially begins Aug. 29, when North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin.

Ohio State Starts at No. 1

Ohio State is the preseason favorite after a strong 2025 campaign. The Buckeyes return several major offensive contributors, including quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

The biggest concern is on defense. Ohio State must replace eight starters, including four players selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

The schedule also presents a major challenge, with road games against Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC, plus home games against Oregon and Michigan.

Georgia Ranked No. 2

Georgia comes in at No. 2 after another 12-2 season.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton returns for his second season as the starter after throwing for 2,894 yards in 2025. The Bulldogs also have significant defensive talent.

However, Georgia needs to improve its pass rush. The Bulldogs recorded only 20 sacks last season, the fewest in the SEC.

Notre Dame at No. 3

Notre Dame is ranked third after finishing 2025 at 10-2.

Coach Marcus Freeman has urged his team to “leave no doubt” this season after the Fighting Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff last year.

Notre Dame will have to replace running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who combined for 2,046 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025.

Quarterback CJ Carr could therefore be asked to carry more responsibility through the passing game.

Oregon Has Unfinished Business

Oregon is fourth after going 13-2 in 2025.

Quarterback Dante Moore decided to return to Eugene rather than enter the NFL draft, giving the Ducks an experienced leader for another championship push.

Oregon will face Ohio State on Nov. 7. The Ducks will not play Indiana during the regular season.

Arch Manning and Texas Round Out the Top Five

Texas is ranked fifth, with the 2026 season potentially being quarterback Arch Manning's final year in Austin.

The Longhorns aggressively added talent around Manning, including wide receiver Cam Coleman and running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown.

However, ESPN identified the offensive line as a major factor. Texas' additions will mean little if the line cannot provide Manning with enough protection and create running lanes.

The Rest of ESPN's Top 25

6. BYU
7. Miami
8. Indiana
9. Texas Tech
10. LSU
11. Texas A&M
12. USC
13. Ole Miss
14. Oklahoma
15. Penn State
16. Alabama
17. Michigan
18. Utah
19. Louisville
20. TCU
21. Washington
22. Houston
23. SMU
24. Iowa
25. Arizona

Indiana Faces the Challenge of Defending Its Title

Indiana enters at No. 8 after completing a remarkable 16-0 season and winning the national championship.

The Hoosiers must replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at quarterback. TCU transfer Josh Hoover is expected to take on the role, although ESPN notes that he does not have Mendoza's mobility.

The bigger question will be whether Hoover can reduce the turnovers that affected him during his time at TCU.

Alabama and Michigan Outside the Top 15

Alabama is ranked No. 16 and could turn to Keelon Russell at quarterback. The Crimson Tide's biggest concern is the running game after averaging only 104.1 rushing yards per game in SEC play last season.

Michigan is No. 17 under new coach Kyle Whittingham. The Wolverines will need quarterback Bryce Underwood to take a significant step after he threw for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a freshman.

Underwood also rushed for 392 yards and six touchdowns and was recently named one of Michigan's four captains.

What the Rankings Mean for 2026

The preseason rankings put Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas at the front of the championship conversation, but several teams immediately behind them have legitimate reasons for optimism.

Indiana enters as the reigning national champion, while Miami, BYU, Texas Tech, LSU and Ole Miss could challenge their respective conferences.

The first major answers will come once the games begin. Preseason rankings provide expectations, but the 2026 season will ultimately be decided on the field.

Analysis: Why Ohio State Leads ESPN’s 2026 College Football Power Rankings

The 2026 college football season is approaching, and ESPN’s preseason Power Rankings have created an interesting picture of what could be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

Ohio State sits at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas. But preseason rankings are not trophies. They are educated predictions, and college football has a funny habit of turning predictions into confetti by October.

The rankings are particularly interesting because several teams near the top have major strengths but also significant questions.

Ohio State Has the Talent, but the Schedule Is Brutal

Ohio State being ranked No. 1 makes sense when looking at the offensive talent returning to Columbus.

Quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith give the Buckeyes a strong foundation. Returning experienced playmakers is especially valuable in an era when rosters can change dramatically from one season to the next.

However, Ohio State's biggest challenge could be replacing eight defensive starters.

Four of those departing defenders were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. That is a massive amount of production and experience to replace.

The schedule also gives Ohio State very little room for error.

The Buckeyes will travel to Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC while also hosting Oregon and Michigan. That means Ohio State will face several teams capable of creating problems.

A No. 1 ranking therefore comes with a warning label: Ohio State may be the most talented team on paper, but the road to another championship will not be comfortable.

Georgia Could Be More Dangerous Than Its Ranking Suggests

Georgia's No. 2 ranking might actually make the Bulldogs one of the most intriguing teams in the country.

The Bulldogs have won SEC championships but suffered quarterfinal exits in the College Football Playoff in each of the past two seasons.

That creates an interesting situation. Georgia is talented enough to be considered a national championship contender, but it has not yet converted its regular-season success into another deep playoff run.

Gunner Stockton's development could be particularly important.

ESPN reports that Stockton passed for 2,894 yards last season. A stronger second season as the starter could make Georgia's offense more consistent.

The major question is the pass rush.

Georgia recorded only 20 sacks in 2025, the fewest in the SEC. In a playoff environment where quarterbacks have more time to throw, defensive pressure can become the difference between winning and watching from home.

If Georgia fixes that weakness, No. 2 could eventually look conservative.

Notre Dame Has Something to Prove

Notre Dame enters the rankings at No. 3 after finishing 2025 with a 10-2 record but missing the College Football Playoff.

That disappointment should provide plenty of motivation.

Coach Marcus Freeman's message to “leave no doubt” summarizes the challenge facing the Fighting Irish.

The problem is that Notre Dame must replace two extremely productive running backs.

Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for 2,046 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns last season. Replacing that production is not as simple as putting another player in the same position.

Aneyas Williams will have a larger role, while quarterback CJ Carr could need to become more influential through the air.

If Notre Dame can maintain offensive balance, the Irish could be positioned to make another serious playoff push.

Oregon Might Have the Most Important Returning Quarterback

Oregon's decision to retain Dante Moore is one of the biggest reasons the Ducks deserve their No. 4 ranking.

Quarterback experience becomes particularly valuable when a team is trying to win a championship. Oregon has already reached the CFP in each of the past two seasons and has fallen to the eventual national champion each time.

That creates a simple motivation: finish the job.

The Ducks will face Ohio State on Nov. 7, making that game one of the most important regular-season contests on the calendar.

If Oregon wins in Columbus, the Ducks' championship credentials will become much stronger.

If they lose, there will still be a path to the playoff, but the margin for error could become smaller.

Texas and Arch Manning Bring the Spotlight

Texas at No. 5 might be the most heavily discussed team outside the top four.

The biggest reason is Arch Manning.

If this is Manning's final season in Austin, there will be enormous attention on his performance. Texas has attempted to surround him with talent, adding players such as Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown.

But the offensive line remains the key.

This is one of the most important lessons in football: having talented skill players does not matter much if the quarterback spends the afternoon running for his life.

Texas therefore has a fairly simple formula. Protect Manning, establish the running game and allow its talented playmakers to create opportunities.

Sounds easy.

College football will probably disagree.

Indiana Faces the Hardest Question of All

Indiana is ranked eighth despite entering 2026 as the reigning national champion.

That ranking might initially look low, but there is an obvious reason: replacing a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback is difficult.

Fernando Mendoza helped Indiana complete a perfect 16-0 season. Now Josh Hoover is expected to take over.

Hoover has experience, but ESPN points out that he does not possess Mendoza's mobility and needs to reduce the turnovers that affected him at TCU.

Indiana therefore represents one of the biggest unknowns in the rankings.

If Hoover settles in quickly, the Hoosiers could challenge for another championship.

If the offense takes a major step backward, Indiana could struggle to reproduce its extraordinary 2025 season.

Going 16-0 twice would be an enormous achievement under any circumstances.

Miami and Ole Miss Could Make Noise

Miami at No. 7 is another team worth watching.

The Hurricanes came close to winning their first national championship since 2001 and followed that disappointment by bringing in one of the nation's strongest transfer classes.

Darian Mensah arrives from Duke, while Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney return.

The concern is the offensive line. Four new starters must be integrated.

Ole Miss, ranked No. 13, may have one of the most exciting offensive combinations in the country.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy both return and are identified as Heisman contenders.

The offensive line could determine whether Ole Miss remains explosive. The Rebels lost both starting offensive tackles, meaning even elite skill-position talent will need protection.

Alabama and Michigan Have Something to Prove

Alabama at No. 16 feels unusual for a program accustomed to living near the top of college football.

The biggest issue is the running game. The Crimson Tide averaged just 104.1 rushing yards in SEC play last season, ranking near the bottom of the conference.

If Keelon Russell wins the quarterback job, his mobility could help change that dynamic.

Michigan at No. 17 is another fascinating case.

Bryce Underwood remains one of the most important young quarterbacks in the country. After throwing for 2,428 yards as a freshman, he now has an opportunity to make a major second-year jump.

The new coaching structure will be closely watched.

The Biggest Lesson From the Rankings

The most important takeaway from ESPN's rankings is that there is no shortage of teams with championship-level talent.

Ohio State has the roster and experience.

Georgia has defensive talent and SEC experience.

Notre Dame has motivation.

Oregon has an experienced quarterback and unfinished business.

Texas has Arch Manning and an aggressive supporting cast.

Indiana has the confidence of a reigning champion.

Miami has transfer talent.

Ole Miss has explosive offensive players.

That is why preseason rankings should be viewed as a starting point rather than a final prediction.

College football is unpredictable, and the expanded playoff creates more opportunities for teams to recover from an early loss. A team ranked outside the top five in August can look completely different by November.

The real test begins when North Carolina and TCU meet in Dublin on Aug. 29.

Until then, Ohio State is No. 1.

But nobody wins a national championship in August.

The Buckeyes have to prove it when the helmets go on, the clock starts and all those beautiful preseason predictions finally meet reality.

And judging by the number of talented teams waiting behind them, reality may have a few surprises ready.

Source: ESPN preseason Power Rankings, published Aug. 21, 2026.