2026 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25

Bo Jackson, Ohio State

1. Ohio State Buckeyes -- As disappointing as the end of this season was, is there any doubt Ryan Day's Buckeyes are going to be back with a vengeance in 2026? They're likely to have the top two non-quarterbacks taken in the upcoming NFL Draft, plus a host of other contributors. Yet, the most important pair is going to be back in quarterback Julian Sayin and wide out Jeremiah Smith. There may be extra motivation next fall for Sayin after coming up short in the Heisman race in 2025, while it still feels like Smith may be able to reach another level in what is sure to his final season of college ball. Bo Jackson emerged as the top option on the ground down the stretch and will play a key role in 2026 keeping defenses honest, all behind a well-stocked offensive line. The defense is where the heavy losses will be, including safety Caleb Downs, who operates as the quarterback of this unit. Yet, this is Ohio State, so we know they will have talent ready to step up for coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes strategically filled holes through the early portion of the transfer portal process, with Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke) bolstering the back-end, and Qua Russaw (Alabama) helping reinforce the front alongside returnee Kenyatta Jackson. Christian Alliegro could be the most underrated addition of the bunch, as he showed ample potential at Wisconsin and now enters the ideal situation for a breakout in Columbus. 

2. Oregon Ducks -- Could 2026 be the year Oregon finally climbs the mountaintop and wins their first National Title in program history? The return of quarterback Dante Moore, who passed on an opportunity to likely be the No. 2 overall selection this spring, has Ducks fans thinking big. Moore will have a new play-caller after OC Will Stein took the Kentucky job, but he'll benefit from a loaded roster around him. The projected pass-catcher group is especially exciting - while star tight end Kenyon Sadiq is off to the NFL, sophomore Dakorien Moore is on the cusp of superstardom, and Evan Stewart is slated to return after missing the entirety of 2025. There is turnover on the staff defensively, too, as Tosh Lupoi left for his alma mater, Cal. But Dan Lanning has built a machine here in Eugene, and the cupboard is far from bare. Bear Alexander and Matayo Uiagalelei both held off on their NFL ambitions to run it back for Oregon up front, and cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. has a chance to be special after earning Freshman All-American honors this past fall. Add in names like Koi Perich, who comes over from inside the Big Ten after two superb years at Minnesota, and the Ducks have all the tools to complete their quest towards a National Title. After coming close the last couple years, it feels like only a matter of time before Lanning and the Ducks finish the job.

3. Georgia Bulldogs -- It felt like Georgia overachieved a bit in 2025 given the youth on this roster, which is great news for their 2026 fortunes as they look to stay atop the SEC. Gunner Stockton isn't the most talented QB Kirby Smart has had here in Athens, but he's one of the most clutch, and he answered a lot of questions in his first year as starter. Stockton will benefit from an improved ground game taking some of the heat off of him, as Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens have a chance to be the best Georgia backfield duo since Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. The defense had some uncharacteristic struggles this past fall, but gained valuable experience. Linebackers Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole will be the key pieces up front, while I've been long awaiting K.J. Bolden's eventual breakout at safety. Beyond Bolden, however, the secondary has significant turnover and was hit hard by portal defections. How youngsters like Rasean Dinkins play could be the make or break between Georgia merely being Playoff good and bringing home a third National Title for Smart. 

4. Texas Longhorns -- Do not be surprised if, for the second straight year, Texas heads into the fall as the

2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship Prediction

Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

Following months of action, the 2025-26 college football season concludes Monday night with a pair of teams hoping to end the year as National Champions. The top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers were dominant throughout the fall, but have turned it up a notch in the College Football Playoff, pummeling Alabama and Oregon to get to this stage. Now, they square off with the last remaining "underdog" Miami Hurricanes, who have upset Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss in a row. For the 'Canes, it's a chance to showcase a return back to being one of the top brands in the sport on the national stage. For Indiana, they're hoping to put the finishing touches on one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history. Who comes out on top in Miami Gardens?

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has already racked up a long list of accolades over the course of

Big Ten Power Rankings 2025-26: Edition 1

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

 1. Michigan Wolverines

Previous Ranking: N/A

Dusty May's Michigan Wolverines have been a machine over the first two months of the college basketball season, perched not just as the best in the Big Ten, but the nation's No. 1 team. They've been absolutely decimating their competition, including wins over San Diego State (by 40), Auburn (by 30), Gonzaga (by 40), and now USC inside the league (by 30). It's rare to see this complete of a team playing this well at this point on the calendar, but I am curious to see how the Wolverines fare once the competition is turned up a notch inside Big Ten play. Their schedule remains fairly light throughout most of January, but the end of the month and into February will give us a great example of what this team is capable of. Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue all await in the next month-and-a-half, along with a non-conference date with Duke in the "Duel in the District" on February 21.

2. Purdue Boilermakers

Previous Ranking: N/A

Aside from a home loss to Iowa State in early December, there's not a blemish on Purdue's record after entering the season as the preseason No. 1 in the country. They've carried their superb play through the early portion of the Big Ten schedule, handling Rutgers, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all with ease en route to a 3-0 start. In addition to the success in the win-loss column, Purdue has a player chasing history in veteran floor general Braden Smith, who set the Big Ten career assists record this past weekend in the Wisconsin win, surpassing Michigan State's Cassius Winston. With his pace, he's in shouting distance of the all-time leader in Division I basketball in Bobby Hurley, with 1,076 being the number to beat. With Smith pacing this offense, Fletcher Loyer emerging as their go-to scoring option, and Trey Kaufmann-Renn and Oscar Cuff on the block, Purdue have all the looks of the greatest threat to Michigan inside the league. Their date on February 17 could be the game of the year, not just in the conference, but college basketball as a whole.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers