ESPN Ranks College Football's 3 Undefeated Teams by Strength of Schedule Right Now

As the 2026 college football season approaches, USA TODAY Sports assembled a 10-voter panel to power rank the top 25 head coaches in the country. Following a chaotic expanded playoff season and a wild coaching carousel, the master list features major shifts across every power conference. From established heavyweights holding down the top tier to rising program builders like Rhett Lashlee, Jon Sumrall, Clark Lea, Josh Heupel, and Sonny Dykes cracking the rankings, we break down every coach's career record, key achievements, and 2026 outlook. Check out our full 25-coach power rankings to see where your team's leader sits.

USA TODAY's Top 25 College Football Coaches: Records Going Into Week 10

Phil Steele's Top 12 College Football Surprise Teams Ahead of Week 10

As kickoff for the 2026 college football season draws near, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) supercomputer simulated thousands of regular-season scenarios to project the final 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. Stripping away subjective voter bias and preseason hype, the algorithm evaluated per-play efficiency, roster talent, and schedule difficulty to calculate every program's exact postseason odds. We expanded our master index to power rank the top 30 teams most likely to crash the playoff party. From top-tier titans like Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Oregon leading the field, to dark horses and Group-of-Five contenders like Boise State, Utah, South Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia lurking on the bubble, we break down every program's FPI profile, projected record, and postseason odds. Check out our complete 30-team playoff projection to see where your team stands.

ESPN Ranks College Football's 48 Teams With a Chance to Make CFP Going Into Week 10

Ranking the Top 10 Most Disappointing College Football Teams Going Into Week 9

ESPN Predicts the Final Record For All 16 SEC Teams Right Now: Going Into Week 9

Ranking The Top 30 College Quarterbacks Right Now: Going into Week 9

ESPN Ranks College Football's 30 2-Loss Teams By Strength of Record Ahead of Week 9

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Florida State fires Mike Norvell, triggering a $50 million payout and a coaching search featuring Jimbo Fisher, Deion Sanders, Rhett Lashlee and others.

Florida State Fires Mike Norvell: Who Will Replace Him?

BYU and unbeaten Utah clash in a major rivalry game, with both programs&#039; winning traditions, strong recruiting and surprising betting odds in sharp focus.

BYU vs. Utah Football: Rivalry Odds & Game Preview

Ole Miss can challenge anyone with its explosive offense, but Georgia&#039;s balanced attack and underrated defense give the Bulldogs an early edge in this clash.

Georgia vs. Ole Miss Preview: Bulldogs Hold the Edge

Notre Dame and Miami meet in a high-stakes showdown, with schedules questioned, playoff hopes looming and the Irish defense facing its toughest test yet.

Notre Dame vs. Miami: Stakes, Strengths and Predictions

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View the profile of Alabama Crimson Tide LB Deontae Lawson on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Deontae Lawson is a LB for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAAF.

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ESPN Ranks Top 25 College Football Teams With Best Chance to Win the Natty Going Into Week 10

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Deontae Lawson

#0 · ALA · LB

HT/WT

6’2”, 228 lbs

Birthplace

Mobile, AL, USA

Class

Senior

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