ESPN's preseason Power Rankings for the 2026 college football season place Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Texas. The season opens Aug. 29 with North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin.

Ohio State (12-2) returns quarterback Julian Sayin, tailback Bo Jackson, and receiver Jeremiah Smith but must replace eight defensive starters. A brutal schedule includes road games at Texas, Iowa, Indiana, and USC. Georgia (12-2) brings back quarterback Gunner Stockton but ranked last in the SEC with only 20 sacks in 2025.

Notre Dame (10-2) seeks to "leave no doubt" after a CFP snub, though it loses its top two running backs. Oregon (13-2) returns quarterback Dante Moore and faces Ohio State on Nov. 7. Texas (10-3) aggressively added transfers around quarterback Arch Manning.

Other contenders: BYU (12-2) targets the Big 12 title; Miami (13-3) reloaded via the portal; Indiana (16-0) replaces Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza; Texas Tech (12-2) turns to Will Hammond after a quarterback eligibility battle.