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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 Going Into Week 8

Going 12-0 in modern college football is arguably the hardest feat in sports. As kickoff for the 2026 season approaches, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) supercomputer simulated thousands of regular-season scenarios to calculate the exact win-out probabilities for every FBS program. Factoring in roster depth, efficiency ratings, and schedule difficulty, we expanded our master index to power rank the 10 teams most likely to finish the regular season undefeated. From Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio State leading the unblemished board to Miami, Oregon, Texas, Penn State, and UNLV lurking, we break down every program's FPI profile, team record, and path to perfection. Check out our full 10-team breakdown to see who could run the table.

ESPN Ranks College Football's 6 Undefeated Teams From Most to Least Likely to Win Out Ahead of Week 8

Michigan and Penn State enter winless in Big Ten play, with shaky offenses and coaches under pressure. The betting pick targets over 42.5 total points.

Michigan vs. Penn State Betting Pick: Over 42.5 Total

College Football Week 7 Best Bets: 4 B1GBets Big Ten Expert Picks

Predicting the 1st Loss for All 9 Undefeated College Football Teams Heading Into Week 7

In the mega-expanded Big Ten, having an elite mind on the sidelines is the ultimate difference between contending for a national championship and scrambling for bowl eligibility. USA Today ran a comprehensive audit to rank every single Big Ten head coach heading into the 2026 season. From Curt Cignetti crowning an incredible national title run in Bloomington to top Ryan Day and Dan Lanning, to blockbuster moves like Kyle Whittingham taking over Michigan and Matt Campbell landing at Penn State, we break down the entire 18-team hierarchy. Check out our complete tactical breakdown to see where your favorite team's head coach lands entering 2026.

USA Today's Big Ten College Football Head Coaches Ranked: 1-18 Going Into Week 7

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A 24-team College Football Playoff may favor strong SEC and Big Ten programs over Cinderella teams, but concerns remain about first-round blowouts again.

Will a 24-Team College Football Playoff Reduce Blowouts?

Miami climbs the AP Top 25 after an overtime win over Florida State, as college football parity, NIL spending and conference shifts reshape the playoff race.

Miami Hurricanes' Rise Amid College Football's Parity

Texas draws skepticism as Notre Dame, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and BYU fuel a chaotic college football playoff race packed with intrigue this weekend.

College Football Playoff Chaos as Texas Doubts Grow

Explore the push for a 24-team College Football Playoff, the sport&#039;s semi-pro shift, SEC parity, and why Florida&#039;s future looks bright under Summerall.

College Football Playoff Expansion and Florida's Future

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View the profile of Penn State Nittany Lions SAF Xxavier Thomas on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Xxavier Thomas is a SAF for the Penn State Nittany Lions in the NCAAF.

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Xxavier Thomas

#12 · PSU · SAF

HT/WT

5’9”, 180 lbs

Birthplace

Canonsburg, PA, USA

Class

Freshman

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