NCAAF · 16 minutes ago

Joel Klatt Reveals Top 25 College Football Preseason Rankings Ahead of 2026 Season

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

It's Your Turn! What Do Your Top 25 Rankings Look Like?
Debate Joel Klatt's Top 25

We’ve officially audited Joel Klatt’s 2026 preseason top 25 rankings, but now it's your turn to step up to the whiteboard!

The No. 1 Debate: Do you agree with Oregon taking the top spot over Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Miami?

The Indiana Respect: Is No. 5 too low for defending champion Indiana, or will Josh Hoover lead them right back to the title game?

The Lane Train in Baton Rouge: Will Lane Kiffin lead LSU (No. 8) to an immediate 12-team playoff berth in Year 1?

Drop your hot takes, thoughts, and preseason rankings in the comments!
FOX Sports Joel Klatt's Top 25 College Football Team Rankings
Joel Klatt Reveals His Preseason Top 25 for the 2026 Season

The countdown to kickoff is officially in the home stretch, and FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt just dropped his definitive 2026 Preseason Top 25 rankings. Between high-profile coaching moves, unprecedented transfer portal activity, and an expanded 12-team playoff landscape, the gap between traditional powerhouses and rising contenders has never been more fascinating.

While Oregon and Notre Dame fight for the top overall spot on Klatt’s big board, wild dark-horse candidates in the Big 12, ACC, and SEC are lurking in the shadows.

Check out Joel Klatt’s complete 2026 preseason top 25 rankings, complete with custom analysis and hand-picked quotes from the man himself!
25. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Big 12

Stillwater underwent a complete culture reboot this summer after bringing in Eric Morris to helm the program. Armed with 55 transfer portal additions, including a massive chunk of starters who followed him directly from North Texas, the Cowboys are betting on an immediate offensive surge in the Big 12.

"How often do you see a team that went 1-11 start out in a preseason top 25? Welcome to the new modern age of college football, which I think is better than how the sport used to be."
24. Arizona Wildcats
Big 12

Brent Brennan's squad is looking to cause serious headaches out West thanks to one of the most seasoned backfield leaders in the country. If the Wildcats can successfully patch up their defensive secondary before September rolls around, they'll be a tough out on any given Saturday.

"I'm a big fan of the Cats and Brent Brennan, now entering his third year as Arizona's head coach. But first-team All-Big 12 quarterback Noah Fafita returning is huge. He's got great experience as he enters his fourth season as a starter."
23. Tennessee Volunteers
SEC

Josh Heupel's fast-paced scheme always keeps the pressure on opposing defensive coordinators, and Neyland Stadium remains one of the single most electric environments in America. The key to their season lies in how fast their young field generals adapt to making instant reads at full speed.

"Three of their four toughest games are at home, as they host Texas, Alabama and LSU. This is a team that might make some noise in the SEC."
22. Iowa Hawkeyes
Big Ten

You already know what to expect when you step onto the field against Kirk Ferentz: a brutal, physical, old-school slugfest. The Hawkeyes will happily pin their ears back on defense, dominate special teams, and grind out low-scoring victories in the fourth quarter.

"It doesn't matter what Iowa brings back. It doesn't matter if the Hawkeyes don't have a quarterback. They still have head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Sean Parker."
21. Houston Cougars
Big 12

Willie Fritz quietly guided the Cougars to double-digit wins last year, building a disciplined foundation that knows how to finish tight games down the stretch. With Conner Weigman pulling the strings under center and fresh weapons arriving through the portal, Houston is aiming to keep climbing the ladder.

"The one thing that I'm worried about is Houston's record in close games last year. It went 6-1 in one-score games in 2025, and teams typically regress to the mean after such a year."
20. Washington Huskies
Big Ten

Jedd Fisch has a clear track record of elevating programs in Year 2, and Montlake is buzzing with legitimate dark-horse optimism. The Huskies feature explosive talent at the skill positions, making them a volatile threat to crash the conference title race.

"It was a messy start to the offseason, but maybe all is well in Washington? Demond Williams is back at quarterback — remember the whole dilemma with him this offseason? That's my biggest question with the Huskies, honestly. Williams is a heck of a player, averaging 332 total yards in the Huskies' nine wins last year."
19. Louisville Cardinals
ACC

Jeff Brohm has consistently churned out 9-win campaigns at his alma mater, relying on a potent ground game and a transfer-heavy roster to stay competitive. The Cardinals enter the fall as a sneaky, high-upside contender in a wide-open conference race.

"I like Louisville and head coach Jeff Brohm a lot. The Cardinals have won nine games in three straight seasons. We'll see how Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz does at quarterback, but he's got a strong running back returning in Isaac Brown, who is an absolute star. "
18. SMU Mustangs
ACC

Rhett Lashlee has turned Dallas into a legitimate power program, proving that the Mustangs can stand toe-to-toe with traditional heavyweights on the national stage. Their fast-tempo offense can light up the scoreboard in a hurry when they're protecting the football.

"The Mustangs have a really experienced quarterback in Kevin Jennings. If he doesn't turn the ball over, he's a really dynamic quarterback. Jennings has helped SMU reach the playoff in his career and led the Mustangs to an upset over Miami last season"
17. Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten

Matt Campbell made massive waves by bringing virtually his entire staff and key core contributors from Ames over to State College. Add in an exceptionally favorable regular-season schedule that avoids several heavyweights, and White Out night could feature serious title stakes.

"The most important person Campbell brought over was Rocco Becht, the most experienced quarterback in college football. He's made 39 career starts, and he'll continue to work with Taylor Mouser, who was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. Becht will also be handing the ball off to running back Carson Hansen, who was second-team All-Big 12 a year ago."
16. Ole Miss Rebels
SEC

Pete Golding takes the reins of an Oxford program that still boasts ridiculous skill-position depth and high-end talent. The Rebels reloaded aggressively through the transfer portal, giving them the firepower to navigate a brutal SEC gauntlet.

"I love Ole Miss' backfield. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is fantastic. His leadership was really tremendous during the College Football Playoff, when Lane Kiffin bailed on them. The Rebels also brought in the No. 2 transfer portal class, so there'll be some talent around Chambliss."
15. Alabama Crimson Tide
SEC

Kalen DeBoer's squad still commands massive respect across the country due to raw talent density and an elite secondary. However, unresolved questions along the line of scrimmage and a rebooted offense have skeptics wondering if Tuscaloosa can regain its dominant form.

"I don't love the trajectory of this program right now, even though they made the playoff a year ago. Here's what I'm concerned about for Bama: It's going to have a brand new quarterback and I don't know where the run game is to help whoever the starting quarterback will be. That was the issue for Alabama last season, as it couldn't support an elite quarterback in Ty Simpson with a run game."
14. BYU Cougars
Big 12

Kalani Sitake has built a punishing, physical program in Provo that loves turning games into 60-minute fistfights. Armed with reigning conference offensive player of the year LJ Martin in the backfield, the Cougars are primed to challenge anyone out West.

"Keeping head coach Kalani Sitake was a huge win for BYU after it proved it could handle just about everyone in the Big 12, outside of Texas Tech."
13. Texas A&M Aggies
SEC

Mike Elko has injected real discipline and defensive identity into College Station, creating high expectations for Year 2. If the Aggies can clean up their run defense and capture a signature road victory early in the fall, Kyle Field will be rocking.

"The one thing Texas A&M's defense will have to get better at is stopping the run. What were the Aggies defensively against the run when you take away their sack yardage? 127th."
12. USC Trojans
Big Ten

Lincoln Riley's program has traded in its Hollywood flash for legitimate line-of-scrimmage muscle, boasting an upgraded defensive front to pair with its signature explosive offense. Despite navigating a grueling schedule, L.A. has the depth to contend.

"This is Lincoln Riley's best team at USC. The Trojans are a real team at the line of scrimmage. I'm not concerned about who the quarterback will be in Riley's offense, as they almost always prove to be a Heisman contender. Jayden Maiava is back behind center, and he'll have two impressive running backs alongside him (Waymond Jordan, King Miller)."
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big 12

Joey McGuire's aggressive NIL spending has turned Lubbock into a destination for high-end transfer talent, particularly along the defensive front. The Red Raiders boast arguably the most complete roster in the Big 12 and enter the season with clear championship ambitions.

"This is still a very talented Red Raiders' roster and Texas Tech is clearly the best team in the Big 12. The schedule sets up for them to go either 11-1 or 12-0."
10. Michigan Wolverines
Big Ten

Ann Arbor is leaning into a proven championship blueprint after bringing in Kyle Whittingham to command the program. Backed by a young phenom at quarterback in Bryce Underwood and a physical defensive identity, the Wolverines are a dangerous wild card.

"For a long time I said 'death, taxes and Utah football.' Well, I should really say: 'death, taxes and Kyle Whittingham'. I believe in Whittingham's structure and fundamental traits to make Michigan a great football team."
9. Oklahoma Sooners
SEC

Brent Venables continues to field one of the most disruptive, suffocating defensive units in the country down in Norman. The entire season hinges on whether the offensive line can generate a consistent ground game to keep their playmaker under center healthy.

"John Mateer is healthy, and when Mateer is healthy, he's one of the better players in the country. This is a team that plays great defense under Brent Venables. That was one of the best defenses in college football."
8. LSU Tigers
SEC

The Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge promises pure entertainment, complete with the nation's No. 1 transfer portal class arriving at Tiger Stadium. If Kiffin can instantly fix a sluggish offensive unit, Death Valley will be bouncing under the lights.

"Kiffin should fix the offense, though. He averages over 500 yards of offense just falling out of bed. That's what he does. He brought in Sam Leavitt, a heck of a quarterback out of Arizona State. Kiffin also had a history of rebuilding through the portal at Ole Miss, and it worked out for him there. "
7. Texas Longhorns
SEC

Steve Sarkisian hit the portal aggressively to bolster the trench play and surrounding skill weapons in Austin. Arch Manning took massive strides down the stretch last fall, giving the Longhorns explosive potential whenever they step on the field.

"The biggest area the Longhorns needed to fix was the offensive line and running the football. Going back to his time at Washington, Steve Sarkisian's best teams are effective at running the football. Texas went into those areas, spent and upgraded in the transfer portal. It got players like Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, along with running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown."
6. Georgia Bulldogs
SEC

Kirby Smart's program remains the gold standard for physical defense and line-of-scrimmage dominance in the SEC. Backed by a tough-as-nails fourth-quarter executor in Gunner Stockton, Athens expects to be in the middle of every championship discussion.

"Georgia's still the class of the SEC. The roster is great. Kirby Smart is a great coach. You can't kill Georgia, either, because quarterback Gunnar Stockton is a gamer who is tough as nails"
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Big Ten

Curt Cignetti pulled off one of the most legendary championship runs in modern college football history, and he retained his entire core coaching staff to run it back. Adding portal star Josh Hoover gives the Hoosiers a clinical distributor to keep the offense humming in Bloomington.

"Curt Cignetti was the best head coach in the country last year, and he kept his coordinators. This should be a run-first team with a great offensive line and talent at wide receiver. I'm going to trust Cignetti. The schedule's a bit tougher than it has been during Cignetti's time there, but Indiana is an elite program."

"
4. Miami (FL) Hurricanes
ACC

Mario Cristobal has built a trench powerhouse down in Coral Gables, stocking the roster with five-star defensive linemen who turn opposing backfields into chaos zones. Following a national championship game appearance, the Canes are locked in on finishing the job.

"Cristobal and Miami have earned that benefit of the doubt as they have five former five-star players on the defensive line. He has recruited at a high level and built great offensive and defensive lines. Miami still has to clean up some of the blunders it had in close losses last year, but it's heading in the right direction."
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Big Ten

Columbus is home to the most terrifying perimeter attack in college football, featuring generational star Jeremiah Smith alongside Julian Sayin. While the defense retools after losing several first-round picks to the NFL, Ryan Day's squad possesses an infinite scoring ceiling.

"Ohio State will have one of the best offenses in the country, with quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (the best player in college football) and several other starters on that unit returning. This is an elite program that will be ranked in the top four for the foreseeable future. "
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Independent

Marcus Freeman has elevated the Fighting Irish into a legitimate national powerhouse, bringing back veteran experience across virtually every level of the defense. With CJ Carr triggering the offense behind a dominant line, South Bend is chasing a ring.

"I love Notre Dame, and this team is angry. Notre Dame has 15 returning starters, and I love that. That's the MO for success in college football these days. That defense is going to be absolutely sick"
1. Oregon Ducks
Big Ten

Dan Lanning has constructed an absolute masterpiece in Eugene, boasting a starting 22 loaded with future NFL first-round picks. With Dante Moore commanding a stacked offense and a terrifying defensive line, the Ducks enter the autumn as the undisputed team to beat.

"That's the best roster in college football. There's no starting 22 that rivals Oregon's. Oregon is the clear frontrunner, and I don't know why there isn't more of a consensus that the Ducks aren't the No. 1 team in the nation."
It's Your Turn! What Do Your Top 25 Rankings Look Like?
Debate Joel Klatt's Top 25

We’ve officially audited Joel Klatt’s 2026 preseason top 25 rankings, but now it's your turn to step up to the whiteboard!

The No. 1 Debate: Do you agree with Oregon taking the top spot over Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Miami?

The Indiana Respect: Is No. 5 too low for defending champion Indiana, or will Josh Hoover lead them right back to the title game?

The Lane Train in Baton Rouge: Will Lane Kiffin lead LSU (No. 8) to an immediate 12-team playoff berth in Year 1?

Drop your hot takes, thoughts, and preseason rankings in the comments!
FOX Sports Joel Klatt's Top 25 College Football Team Rankings
Joel Klatt Reveals His Preseason Top 25 for the 2026 Season

The countdown to kickoff is officially in the home stretch, and FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt just dropped his definitive 2026 Preseason Top 25 rankings. Between high-profile coaching moves, unprecedented transfer portal activity, and an expanded 12-team playoff landscape, the gap between traditional powerhouses and rising contenders has never been more fascinating.

While Oregon and Notre Dame fight for the top overall spot on Klatt’s big board, wild dark-horse candidates in the Big 12, ACC, and SEC are lurking in the shadows.

Check out Joel Klatt’s complete 2026 preseason top 25 rankings, complete with custom analysis and hand-picked quotes from the man himself!