Full College Football Preview 2026

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

 Top 25

(Note: These rankings reflect where I expect teams to finish, not how I rank them entering the preseason.)

1. Oregon Ducks -- Dan Lanning's program has been among the most dominant in all of the land since his arrival, but the Ducks are still on the hunt for elusive postseason success. Now, he has a team with a core that all said to the NFL to run it back for a shot at the National Title, including Heisman frontrunner Dante Moore, several key position players, and nearly the entire D-Line. Surviving the unforgiving Big Ten will help this team build the armor they need to finish the job this time around.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- The Irish were a notable Playoff snub last winter, but they have all the looks of a team that will cruise this time around. Quarterback C.J. Carr, elite line play, and perhaps the nation's best secondary put Notre Dame in position for their best season since the turn of the century.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes -- The shocking loss to Miami in last year's Playoff indicated there is still work to be done in Columbus if they want to stay on top of the college football world. Fortunately, this year's Buckeyes team has perhaps the nation's best QB-WR combo in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, plus one of the country's most talented freshman in Chris Henry Jr.

4. Georgia Bulldogs -- The machine in Athens keeps on running, as Kirby Smart's Bulldogs have won 11 or more games each full season for a decade straight. Don't expect that to stop in 2026, as Georgia looks to be the team to beat in the SEC. A veteran QB and loaded defense is all Kirby needs to build a National Title favorite.

5. Texas Longhorns -- The pressure is on for Steve Sarkisian at Texas. Arch Manning is in his second full season as starter. The Longhorns spent huge in the portal, including landing one of the best on the market in Cam Coleman. And then there were the staff moves, with Will Muschamp making his triumphant return as defensive coordinator. If this team can survive one of the nation's toughest schedules, a deep postseason run feels like it's in the cards.

6. Miami Hurricanes -- The breakthrough finally arrived in Coral Gables last winter. How do they build on it? Bringing on Darian Mensah at quarterback was quite the statement, and a likely upgrade at the game's most important position. He'll throw to one of the nation's most electric playmakers, Malachi Toney, who is on the cusp of superstardom. The 'Canes should dominate a middling ACC and enter the Playoff as a true title contender.

7. Indiana Hoosiers -- Nobody is overlooking the Hoosiers now after putting together one of the most

College Football Preview 2026: Big 12 Part 2

Julian Lewis, Colorado

 

Power Rankings

Teams 1-8 in Part 1

9. Arizona State Sun Devils

Replicating the magical success of the 2024 campaign was always going to be a challenge for Arizona State, and it didn't help they were bitten by the injury bug last fall. Even so, head coach Kenny Dillingham showed real coaching chops dragging this Sun Devils team an 8-5 finish, which included the upset of league champion Texas Tech. 

The new challenge entering 2026 will be building on that, despite losing star quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Leavitt missed a big chunk of last season with injury, but his transfer to LSU is still a major blow to the program. Tyson, meanwhile, is playing on Sundays now, taken eighth overall by the New Orleans Saints.

Arizona State will now turn to Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley to run the offense. We saw flashes from Boley during his time in Lexington but consistency was a problem, and he was quite turnover prone, with 12 interceptions. Dillingham is going to need to curve his worst impulses, but the potential is there if he can acclimate to this system.

Boley will have some fun pieces to work with, even without Tyson. Omarion Miller and Reed Harris were big gets in the portal, with Miller coming over from Colorado and Harris from Boston College. Miller immediately becomes a go-to guy in this offense, fresh off a year in which he went for over 800 yards with the Buffaloes. Add in Washington transfer Raiden Vines-Bright, who now returns to his native Tempe, there's some thought this receiver corps could actually be better in 2026.

There's turnover at tailback after Raleek Brown got a huge NIL deal with Texas, but the Sun Devils will look to deploy a committee approach this fall. Junior Kyson Brown is probably going to get the most opportunities, but Jason Brown Jr. had the huge bowl showing against Duke in the Sun Bowl. Freshman Cardae Mack is the talented newcomer, giving this position real depth.

The defense will look a lot different in 2026 after an up-and-down season a year ago. The Sun Devils saw plenty of attrition up front and hit the portal hard to upgrade a pass defense that was among the worst in the Big 12. One of the few constants is veteran defensive linemen C.J. Fite, who will play a key leadership role this year.

The back seven may be full of newcomers, but several of them are highly accomplished. That includes tackling machine Owen Long, who comes over from Colorado State after leading FBS football in tackles last season. In the secondary, Lyrik Rawls comes over from Kansas, while Ashton Stamps is primed to enter a starting role after arriving from LSU. Stamps has 17 career starts to his credit, and his experience will be valuable in reshaping a defensive backfield that needs to be better.

Bottom Line: Dillingham can flat out coach, but this offseason was a tough one in Tempe. This is a school with ample resources, but seeing Leavitt and Brown take huge NIL deals elsewhere was a wakeup call for the program. Arizona State responded the best way they could, spending that money on greater needs and identifying potential weapons who could replace Tyson at receiver. Yet, this still has the looks of a transition season for the Sun Devils. The schedule does no favors - going on the road to Texas A&M is one thing in mid-September, but then turning around without any additional rest to meet up with Kansas in London? The Sun Devils also have Texas Tech, BYU, and Arizona all on the road this fall, quite the gift from the Big 12 schedule-makers. I'm always wary of how a team like this reacts to a long travel schedule early on in the year, and the downstream impacts it can have. Given that, and the questions elsewhere, simply getting back to a bowl game would be a success for Dillingham and staff.

10. Baylor Bears

Few coaches in college football enter this fall as squarely on the hot seat as Dave Aranda at Baylor. The Aranda tenure in Waco has been a confusing one, full of some incredible highs and shocking lows. There was the slow start during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, a surprising Big 12 Title a year later, and then four years flip-flopping between being competitive and being at the bottom of the league.

At 36-37 overall, Aranda knew he had to act this offseason, and he brought in quite a big name on offense. D.J. Lagway, the former blue-chip recruit, will be handed control of the Baylor offense after Sawyer Roberton's graduation. Lagway had his moments in Gainesville and oozed potential, but it never quite came together. This past season was especially tough, but health did seem to play a factor, as Lagway never quite looked 100 percent. 

The pairing of Lagway with offensive coordinator Jake Spavital could be exciting. But, the two of them will have to make do with an offense that is replacing just about every other big name from a unit that averaged 31.1 points per contest in 2025.

Dawson Pendergrass looks like he will be the guy next to Lagway in the backfield, as he's back again after missing all of 2025. We saw him at his best in 2024, as he tallied 671 yards on the year, but he'll have to stay healthy this year. Caden Knighten is another key returnee, but the Bears need this pair to stay healthy given the lack of experience behind them. 

The receiver corps has a lot of potential, but it's hard to know who the real playmakers are going to end up being. Gavin Freeman is a name to watch, now on his third school of his college career, but he's not your traditional wide out, at just 5'9". Colorado transfer Dre'lon Miller can do it all, including spending time at running back with the Buffaloes, but he has yet to put it all together. Louis Brown IV and Jadon Porter are the holdovers who Baylor is hoping can emerge.

Then, there's the offensive line. Four starters are departing from this unit, with right tackle Kaden Sieracki the only one back. The Bears are hoping transfers can fill the void, and is also high on Kaden's younger brother, Koltin, to come in and potentially start at center.

Given Aranda's defensive background, it's been pretty shocking how poorly Baylor has fared on this side of the ball throughout his tenure. Last year was more of the same, with the Bears being gashed on the ground and surrendering 32.6 PPG (120th in the country). There were sweeping changes in the offseason, with Aranda making quite the splash by bringing on Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman to run this unit.

Klanderman is highly accomplished, and got the most from his defenses with K-State. Perhaps most importantly for the Bears, he was able to engineer some strong rush defenses. He'll have to work some magic this year, as Baylor's front seven is nearly entirely new, with the exception being linebacker Travion Barnes and defensive tackle Devonte Tezino.

It's better news in the defensive backfield, with veterans LeVar Thornton and Jacob Redding, plus a healthy Devin Turner, who returns from a torn ACL. Redding is one of the most underrated defenders in the conference, a former walk-on who has emerged as one of the most consistent tacklers in the Big 12. He missed the season finale last year with injury and wasn't at 100 percent this spring, so ensuring he is ready to go will be a top priority.

Klanderman is hoping to force more turnovers with this unit this fall, running a more aggressive unit that takes more chances than what we saw under Aranda. Between an offense that throws the ball around and a defense that could not create turnovers, Baylor was among the worst in FBS ball with a -13 turnover margin.

Bottom Line: Landing Lagway and bringing in Klanderman were the type of offseason wins Aranda needed going into a make-or-break seventh season. But it's hard to know if those are going to be enough to reverse Baylor's fortunes when you consider just how much is leaving elsewhere. The offense is replacing its quarterback, running back, top four receivers, and four starters on the O-Line. The defense, even with Klanderman's track record, is a complete mystery given all the new pieces in the front seven. Aranda seems to perform his best when his back is against the wall, but it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which Baylor builds much on last year's 5-7 mark. Depending on how they handle a late September to mid-October stretch that includes Colorado, Arizona State, and TCU could determine whether Aranda is even still the man in charge when the season concludes on the road against Houston in the season finale.

11. West Virginia Mountaineers

College Football Preview 2026: Big 12 Part 1

Will Hammond, Texas Tech

 Power Rankings

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Following a 2025 season in which they went 8-1 in the league and won the Big 12 Title, Texas Tech was always going to be the team to beat heading into this fall. But after the Brendan Sorsby saga unfolded throughout the offseason, the program is taking on a true villain role as they embark on the 2026 campaign.

The Sorsby drama concluded with the $4 million quarterback and the Red Raiders officially parting ways, meaning it will be last year's backup, Will Hammond, as the projected starter. Hammond had some bright moments in relief of Behren Morton last season, but he has questions of his own. He missed the final six games of 2025 after tearing his ACL, and has been working his way back the entire offseason. The hope is that he'll be ready for the opener, but the Red Raiders will likely be cautious with him early on. Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis may be thrust into a larger role than expected when he came over from the Golden Hurricanes.

As the quarterback questions persist, Texas Tech will lean on their ground game. And that's good news, too, because this may be one of the nation's best running back rooms. Cam Dickey and J'Koby Williams combined for nearly 2,000 yards and total touchdowns last season, and they will now be joined by a healthy Quinten Joyner, who missed the entirety of 2025 with injury after transferring in from USC. Joyner ran for 478 yards the last time we saw him healthy, averaging 7.6 yards per carry for the Trojans.

The rest of the offense is similarly loaded. Although the receiver corps saw several players leave for the NFL, they added Pittsburgh transfer Kenny Johnson, and sure-handed senior Coy Eakin returns. The Red Raiders also still have high hopes for former five-star recruit Micah Hudson, who has had some flashes, but is still awaiting his true breakthrough moment. Tight end Terrence Carter, an All-Big 12 talent, is also still in Lubbock, and ready to support whoever is throwing passes.

The offensive line returns three starters, and has exceptional depth. Jordan Church comes in from Louisville and could slide into a starting guard spot, and the program is still hopeful Hunter Zambrano can regain his old form, as the former All-Missouri Valley linemen at Illinois State has had two straight injury-shortened seasons. Don't be surprised if Felix Ojo, the gem of the 2026 high school recruiting class, also finds a way to factor in immediately somewhere, too.

Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood engineered the nation's No. 3 defense in 2025. Then, he watched as Texas Tech sent a bunch of defenders to the pros, namely David Bailey, Romello Height, and reigning Butkus Award winner Jacob Rodriguez. Despite the turnover, Wood should have the Red Raiders stout on this side of the ball once more, as the program reloaded through the portal.

Senior nose tackle A.J. Holmes is a key holdover who will cause chaos in the heart of the Red Raider defensive line. Around him, Texas Tech spent big in the portal to replace the likes of Bailey and Height. San Diego State's Trey White and Miami-Ohio's Adam Trick are the top two names, with both expected to slide into starting roles.

The departure of Rodriguez is significant, as the do-it-all linebacker was the heart and soul of this unit in 2025. Nobody will completely replicate his production, but returnees Ben Roberts and John Curry will pair with Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine to create quite the strong position group. Romaine has 184 career tackles, and is looking for a resurgent 2026 after injury cost him a chunk of last fall.

There's more good news in the secondary, as headliner Brice Pollock leads a group that should be among the best in the Big 12. Pollock will have NFL attention all year long, but veterans Amier Boyd and Brendan Jordan will also play a crucial role in cleaning up on the back-end.

Bottom Line: Few programs have taken greater advantage of this new era of college football than Texas Tech, who has spent like a team that wants to win a National Title. The result has been a roster that is far and away the most talented in the Big 12, even after the Sorsby situation. The quarterback questions may linger into the fall, but the Red Raiders have the luxury of having time to figure it out. Aside from the Week Three date with Houston at home, they should roll through their early schedule before things heat up in mid-to-late October. Another 11-1 or even undefeated regular season doesn't seem out of the question given the Red Raiders miss BYU inside the conference, but the next step will be showing up in the College Football Playoff. A 23-0 blowout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl showed the program still has work to do as they establish themselves as one of the sport's big boys in this new college football landscape.

2. BYU Cougars

There's a lot returning from a BYU team that went 12-2 and played Texas Tech for a Big 12 Title last season, but perhaps no return is more important than that of head coach Kalani Sitake. Sitake was on the short list for the Penn State head coaching job and appeared destined to take it, before BYU countered with a hefty extension and increased NIL funding.

Sitake's return, mixed with so many key personnel pieces back, has the Cougars believing they can give Texas Tech a run for their money at the top of the league. To reach that next step, BYU needs quarterback Bear Bachmeier to continue his growth after a surprisingly strong first season as starter.

Bachmeier was not even the expected starter for BYU heading into last season, as incumbent Jake Retzlaff was returning for another year. That was until Retzlaff was suspended in June, and subsequently announced his decision to transfer to Tulane. The youthful Bachmeier then came on and totaled 3,500 yards of total offense and 26 touchdowns.

Joining Bachmeier will be tailback L.J. Martin, giving BYU quite the potent rush offense. Martin went for over 1,300 yards and 12 scores himself, and his ability to catch out of the backfield gives this Cougar offense another way to impose their will on opposing defenses. Those two will play an even greater role in 2026, as BYU is replacing its top three receivers from a season ago.

Juniors Jojo Phillips and Cody Hagen are names folks expect to emerge given their familiarity in the offense, but Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper is also a name to watch, as a huge 6'6" wide out on the perimeter. Transfer tight end Walker Lyons should also factor in, as the former USC transfer flashed significant upside with the Trojans. He comes to BYU with his brother, Ryder, who was one of the top signees of the Cougar 2026 recruiting class.

While Sitake stayed put, the same can not be said of defensive coordinator Jay Hill. He joined up with Kyle Whittingham at Michigan, leaving the Cougars to turn to Kelly Poppinga to run this defense. Poppinga has been on the staff for a long time, and he'll look to run essentially the same system Hill had in place.

Poppinga will benefit from having a bunch of starters returning, with nearly the entire front seven back. In fact, the only new starter is quite the significant one, linebacker Cade Uluave. Uluave was one of the most coveted defenders in the portal, and BYU flexed their muscles by landing the one-time Cal Golden Bear. He brings 26 starts to the table, fresh off a 2025 in which he notched 100 tackles and 12 TFL.

There's plenty of stability in the secondary, where three starters return. Senior corner Evan Johnson is among the most underrated defenders anywhere in the nation, a steady veteran who picked off five passes last year. 

Bottom Line: You can understand why BYU paid Sitake big money to stay in Provo. Aside from 2023, when BYU went 5-7 as they struggled to adjust to the new-look Big 12, the Cougars have won eight or more games every season since 2019. The hope is that they can build on that success and both give Texas Tech a legitimate challenge for the Big 12 crown, and contend for the College Football Playoff. The pieces are certainly in place to do just that, especially if Bachmeier takes the steps forward as a passer many expect him to. A mid-season date with Notre Dame at home in the heart of their Big 12 schedule will be tricky, but also gives the Cougars a chance to secure the type of statement win that has eluded them for much of the Sitake years.

3. Houston Cougars

College Football Preview 2026: Big Ten Part 2

Nico Iamaleava, UCLA

Power Rankings

Teams 1-9 in Part 1

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers

It will be Year Ten on the sidelines for P.J. Fleck at Minnesota this fall, now the second-longest tenure in the league. Fleck has built a consistent winner in the Twin Cities, winning at least eight games or more in six of his last seven full seasons at the helm, with a perfect bowl record to his credit. Entering 2026, the question is whether the Gophers can make the jump from merely being solid to becoming a legitimate contender in the conference.

To improve on last year's eight wins, Minnesota will need more from an offense that averaged just 23 points per game last fall - 99th nationally. The personnel will be very familiar, as the Gophers return Drake Lindsey at quarterback, most of their top skill position pieces, and three starters on the O-Line.

Lindsey was impressive in his first season as starter, considering he was a redshirt freshman playing in perhaps the toughest conference in the sport. He threw for 2,382 yards and 18 touchdowns on the year, and did not throw an interception in Minnesota's final five games. The Gophers are excited about what he can do for an encore this fall, especially with what they bring back around him.

The receiver corps was underwhelming a season ago, but returns its top two pass-catchers in Jalen Smith and Javon Tracy, and this was clearly a position of focus for the staff in the portal. Smith was the preseason darling heading into last season and displayed big-play potential - the Gophers are hopeful he can be a true No. 1 in 2026. Cincinnati transfer Noah Jennings looks likely to factor in heavily, while Perry Thompson arrives from Auburn with loads of potential but limited production at this point in his career.

It was certainly strange to see the Gophers, a team that has always pounded the rock under Fleck, struggle to run the ball so much last year. They averaged just 103.2 YPG, which ranked them 126th nationally. The return of Darius Taylor bodes well, but he needs to stay healthy after several injury-plagued seasons. Minnesota needs others to emerge to take the pressure off Taylor - Marshall transfer A.J. Turner missed most of last season with injury but should be back and ready to go in 2026. Elon transfer T.J. Thomas is also expected to see a healthy amount of action.

The ground game will benefit from this offensive line, which has three legitimate All-Big Ten talents in tackle Nathan Roy, guard Greg Johnson, and center Ashton Beers. Right guard and right tackle are both spots where position battles will unfold in fall camp, although adding Tennessee transfer Bennett Warren should help in a major way.

Defensive coordinator Danny Collins had the unenviable task of following up Corey Hetherman after he took off for Miami, and there were certainly growing pains in Year One. The numbers were okay, but the Gophers had some uncharacteristic ugly showings, namely allowing 41 to Iowa and 38 to Northwestern.

Despite the struggles, Fleck decided to roll with Collins for 2026, and there is reason to believe in a resurgence on this side of the ball. For one, this may be the best front seven we've seen here at Minnesota since Fleck took over. Anthony Smith likely would have been a Day One or Two NFL Draft pick, but instead opted to stay put after notching 12.5 sacks last season. He'll be joined by returnees Karter Menz and Jaxon Howard, while Cal transfer T.J. Bush Jr. further bolsters the group.

The linebacker corps will be spearheaded by Maverick Baranowski. The veteran has proven his worth on the field, with 103 tackles a year ago, but is now looking to take on more of a leadership role this year. The likely starter next to him is Matt Kingsbury, who had flashes last fall.

It is the secondary where most of the questions lie, as was the case a year ago. The departure of Koi Perich, who took a massive NIL package with Oregon, stings. However, it's no secret Perich went through a bit of a sophomore slump last year, and Minnesota has important pieces still around. Kerry Brown is perhaps the most underrated safety in the Big Ten, and will now pair with veteran Aidan Gousby. Corner is also in a good spot with John Nestor back after a breakout 2025, but it's unclear who will start opposite of him.

Bottom Line: When you consider the Gophers had a first-year QB, an offense that was statistically among the worst in the Big Ten, and a defense that took a major step backwards, going 8-5 last season should actually be seen as quite the success. This team has all the places in piece to improve on that win total, although the schedule doesn't exactly do them any favors. Mississippi State offers a tough non-conference date and the road schedule is brutal, with the Gophers traveling to Washington, Indiana, Penn State, and Wisconsin. The most likely scenario is another year right around the 8-9 win mark, with the potential for an upset or two if Lindsey takes the jump some think he's capable of after such a solid debut in 2025.

11. Wisconsin Badgers

After an incredible run at Cincinnati, it has been genuinely shocking to witness Luke Fickell struggle so throughly in Madison. With a 17-21 record entering his fourth season at the helm, few coaches in college football sit as firmly on the hot seat as he does.

Fickell certainly responded this offseason, moving like a coach on his last stand. The Badgers spent big in the portal to upgrade this roster, beginning with new QB Colton Joseph, who comes over from Old Dominion. Joseph put up monster numbers with the Monarchs, and his dual threat ability should provide this Badger offense with a different look than they've had previously. For Wisconsin to be successful, they need Joseph to limit the turnovers, which was a problem at times at ODU, and stay healthy. Few programs in college football have suffered as rotten injury luck at this position as Wisconsin.

The Badgers need more from this receiver group, too. Chris Brooks Jr. and Eugene Hilton are the top holdovers from 2025, but the staff hit the portal hard. Shamar Rigsby is a name to watch from Oklahoma State, and the Badgers are hopeful they can finally be the ones to unlock Malachi Coleman. He came with high billing from the high school ranks, but simply was not able to see the field at either Nebraska or Minnesota.

It will be Iowa State transfer Abu Sama III as the feature back with Darrion Dupree and TCU transfer Nate Palmer likely to feature. For this ground attack to reach the heights of vintage Wisconsin offenses, the O-Line also has to be better. There are a couple of returning starters, but this is another unit relying heavily on transfers.

For all their struggles last season, this was still a Top 25 defense, and I'm incredibly high on this Badger defense entering 2026. There's a lot of contributors back from last year's group, and the staff filled holes strategically in the portal.

The defensive line is perhaps the top question on this side of the ball, but they'll be helped by a potentially elite linebacker corps. Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa impressed last fall and could both take major leaps during their sophomore campaigns. Posa led the team in tackles and showed real pass rushing chops, with four sacks, and he only started five games. With both of those unleashed, this Badger defense should have a feel reminiscent of the groups that once patrolled the middle for Bret Bielema and Paul Chryst.

Matthew Jung will lead the secondary, but this unit is heavily reliant on transfers. Four new cornerbacks arrived via the portal, and Missouri transfer Marvin Burks Jr. is line to start alongside Jung at the safety spot.

Bottom Line: As bad as these last three years have been for Fickell, there's reason to believe the Badgers could be in store for a turnaround. The quarterback situation quite literally could not be any worse than it has the last two seasons, and Joseph appears like a genuine upgrade. There's real depth behind him this year, too, in a way there simply wasn't the last couple of years. The Badgers also upgraded the roster top-to-bottom with transfers, spending like a program ready to get back to their winning ways. Perhaps most importantly, the schedule is quite favorable, after Wisconsin played some of the hardest schedules in the conference over the first three Fickell years. The season opener with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field will be tough, but the Badgers miss Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana inside the league. At the very least, a return to the postseason seems to be in the cards, which may be just enough to get Fickell a fifth season in Madison.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers

A 6-2 start had Nebraska fans thinking big last fall, but four losses in their final five games led to an unfulfilling 7-6 finish. Among those four losses was a 27-point thumping from a Penn State team that had effectively quit on their season, a 24-point defeat to rival Iowa, and a loss in the bowl game to Utah by three touchdowns. Those results have Matt Rhule under a bit of job pressure as he looks towards 2026.  Rhule has gotten the Cornhuskers back to respectability, but is there another gear he can reach with the program?

Any hopes of greater heights this season will rest heavily on the shoulders of new quarterback Anthony Colandrea. Now with his third school, Colandrea is hoping he can find the consistency that has eluded him throughout his collegiate career. The senior has many amazing moments, but limiting turnovers and taking more calculated risks are what Nebraska is hoping for from him this fall. 

Colandrea will benefit playing in a Dana Holgorsen offense, one that is going to look to stretch the field vertically and take their shots in a way we didn't see often with Dylan Raiola in 2025. The receiver group is talented, led by the duo of Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney Jr., but it's still looking for a true alpha. Both Hunter and the staff are hopeful is performance in the Maryland win a year ago was a sign of things to come - he burned the Terrapins for 5-125 and two touchdowns.

The departure of Emmett Johnson at running back is significant. After a pair of productive seasons, Johnson had his true breakthrough season in 2025, going for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns before being taken in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs. The 'Huskers are likely to turn to a committee approach in the hopes of replicating some of his production. Mekhi Nelson and converted wide out Isaiah Mozee are likely to see the bulk of action right away, but highly touted newcomer Jamal Rule could end up being the best of the trio when it's all said and done.

The Nebraska offensive line has a few pieces back, fortunately at two of the best important positions in left tackle Elijah Pritchett and center Justin Evans. However, this is going to be yet another O-Line that relies heavily on transfers, and how quickly they can gel could be a huge factor in the offense's eventual success. 

Much like Nebraska as a whole, the defense was tremendous throughout the season's first half, but slipped in a major way down the stretch. Giving up 37 points or more in all three of their final losses was a genuine shock, and Rhule acted quickly when firing coordinator John Butler. In his place will be Rob Aurich, who brings with him a 4-2-5 defensive scheme from San Diego State.

Aurich has some interesting pieces to work with on this defense, and it starts up front. The duo of defensive ends Cam Lenhardt and Williams Nwaneri is supremely talented, but needs to be better in 2026. Nwaneri in particular was one of the country's top recruits when he signed with Missouri coming out of high school, and at 6'7", he looks like an NFL pro. Yet, just 2.5 sacks last fall indicates there is plenty of work to be done.

Junior linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. will play a key role in shoring up a rush defense that was leaky throughout much of last season, and this was an area of focus in the portal. Dexter Foster comes over from Oregon State, while Owen Chambliss reunites with Aurich after starring at San Diego State for him a year ago.

The pass defense may be short on big name star power but it was an elite group in 2025, finishing third in the nation in pass defense. Three starters are back this fall, so we can expect Aurich to play around and perhaps be more creative with the looks he will deploy up front given he knows he has this group behind them.

Bottom Line: The long-awaited Year Three breakthrough for Matt Rhule never quite materialized last fall, and I'm not sure it will arrive in Year Four, either. There are still reasons for optimism in Lincoln, as Colandrea feels like a much better fit for this offense than Raiola, and the defense has some very nice pieces. But the lack of Johnson offensively is concerning, and there simply is not the NFL talent on this roster Nebraska fans were hoping for from Rhule at this point in his tenure. In fact, 2026 feels like it could just be a repeat of last year, as the schedule sets up in a similar way. A hot start is likely, perhaps even a 5-0 record, before Nebraska hits an October and November that includes Indiana, Oregon on the road, Washington, Ohio State, and Iowa on the road. Rhule will have ample opportunities to get the big win that has eluded him so far in his Cornhusker tenure, but it's hard to imagine this team improving much on last year's 7-6 mark.

13. UCLA Bruins