NCAAF · 19 minutes ago

Phil Steele Ranks the Top 14 Most Improved Teams in College Football for 2026

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

14. Auburn Tigers
Phil Steele finishes his list of most improved teams with a trip to the SEC, as the Auburn Tigers are ranked 14th. It is the first season for head coach Alex Golesh as he makes the move from South Florida, and fans are fired up after moving on from Hugh Freeze. Auburn has a promising defense, and the offensive skill players were largely just transported with Golesh. Byrum Brown is an awesome dual-threat at quarterback, and the receivers are exciting. The big question mark for Auburn is whether or not they are ready to hold up in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
1. Liberty Flames
Just three years ago, the Liberty Flames went 13-0 and earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Head coach Jamey Chadwell was a rising star, and it seemed like the Flames were on the verge of becoming the “new Boise State” as a mainstay at the top of the Group of Five. After starting 2024 5-0, the Flames are just 7-11 since. Important context: Liberty lost three straight overtime games to end the 2025 season. Phil Steele believes the program is due for a major turnaround, and he has Liberty listed as his No. 1 most-improved team for the 2026 season. Liberty has more resources than every other Conference USA squad, and the Flames should have a good rushing attack with a loaded running back room. After a couple of seasons of bad turnover luck, that should turn, and if they can find even competent quarterback play, Liberty will be a threat in Conference USA.
2. Air Force Falcons
Troy Calhoun’s Air Force Falcons were just 4-8 last season, and there is some pressure on the veteran head coach to turn things around as Navy and Army have ascended. After battling through injuries and youth, the Falcons are set to soar in 2026, and Phil Steele has Air Force as the No. 2 most-improved team. Air Force is now No. 1 on Steele’s experience chart, and quarterback Liam Szarka, a true dual-threat weapon, headlines that. The defense was very young a year ago and should be improved. With a manageable schedule, this could be a fun year in Colorado Springs.
3. Virginia Tech Hokies
The most improved power conference team in the nation, according to Phil Steele, is the Virginia Tech Hokies. James Franklin is the new head coach in Blacksburg, and he was able to retain much of the returning production while infusing the roster with at least six expected starters from Penn State via the transfer portal. That includes an upgrade at quarterback with Ethan Grunkemeyer, and the overall talent profile on the roster is significantly upgraded. It’s reasonable to project the 2026 version of Virginia Tech would be favored by double digits over the 2025 Hokies.
4. Marshall Thundering Herd
As expected, the first season under head coach Tony Gibson was a complete rebuild and one of the rougher seasons the Thundering Herd have had. They still managed to go 5-7 in the Sun Belt, and Phil Steele has the Herd ready to bounce back as the fourth-most improved team in the country. Marshall returns preseason All-Sun Belt quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, and Toby Payne is one of the top G6 tight ends. Marshall added close to 20 players in the transfer portal, and Steele believes the overall quality of the roster has been upgraded enough to make a big difference.
5. UCLA Bruins
The No. 5 team on the most improved list requires a trip to the West Coast. The UCLA Bruins massively upgraded on the sideline as DeShaun Foster (and Tim Skipper) make way for new head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins start with a solid foundation led by quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Chesney brings eight James Madison players who started for the Dukes to Westwood. People are making comparisons to another James Madison to Big Ten jump, but expecting a repeat of what Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana is likely to set up disappointment. That written, UCLA could go from the basement to contending for a bowl game this season.
6. Florida Atlantic Owls
Florida Atlantic has not had a winning season since 2020. Phil Steele thinks the Owls might be ready to fly this season, powered by a high-octane offense. Head coach Zach Kittley, a former offensive coordinator at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, is known for an attack that goes at a lightning-quick pace, and FAU is poised to be a handful for American Athletic Conference opponents. The improvement is likely to come from the main components of the offense returning for a second season. Another year of experience in this system should make a big difference. That means Caden Veltkamp at quarterback and star receiver Easton Messer will put up huge numbers. They need to limit the turnovers, and if that luck changes a bit, FAU will be bowling.
7. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Veteran head coach Chris Creighton is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the country, and he did a great job turning around the moribund Eastern Michigan program. However, EMU has now had three losing seasons in a row, and Creighton enters the 2026 campaign on the hot seat. Phil Steele has the Eagles ranked as the seventh-most improved team in the country and believes there are pieces in place to compete in the MAC. The run defense was atrocious and almost has to be better this season, and they might have the best passing attack in the conference.
8. Florida State Seminoles
Get your jokes about Florida State out now before you continue reading. All done? Okay, good, let’s continue. The Florida State Seminoles were ranked number one on this list in 2025, and while they did improve from 2-10, they still limped to a losing season. This season, they check in as the No. 8 most-improved team nationally. Ashton Daniels was brought in to try and solve the quarterback issue, and the receiving corps should be a strength. Steele liked the additions of linebacker Chris Jones and defensive back Ja’bril Rawls (both All-ACC members for Steele). Norvell’s team is not bereft of talent, but the schedule is very difficult, and the pressure remains very high in Tallahassee.
9. Kansas State Wildcats
Last year was a wild year for Kansas State football. The Wildcats were a surprising disappointment as they limped to a 6-6 record, and quarterback Avery Johnson continued to be more hype and potential than production. After the season, respected head coach Chris Klieman stepped aside and retired. Kansas State turned to former quarterback Colin Klein to lead the program, and Phil Steele thinks they are well-positioned for a bounce-back season. There is no more runway for Johnson, and it’s now or never for him to break through. Joe Jackson is back as a very solid option at running back, and the tight ends should be very good. The defense lost some very good pieces, but Phil Steele believes the replacement parts are exciting and offer hope for the Wildcats to rebound.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
Shane Beamer is firmly on the hot seat, but Phil Steele believes the South Carolina Gamecocks are in a position to get some good breaks and improve in 2026. LaNorris Sellers is back, and the offensive line should be improved, but injuries at wide receiver are piling up in fall camp, and that presents a big concern. The defense has plenty of star power as they kept stud defensive end Dylan Stewart in Columbia, but his back is still not 100 percent.
11. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
For the eighth season in a row, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns reached a bowl game. Head coach Michael Desormeaux probably needs more than another six-win campaign to keep his job. Louisiana is ranked the 11th-most improved team in the country, and Steele is betting on continuity, as they did not do much in the transfer portal.
12. Wisconsin Badgers
Luke Fickell was on the hottest of seats during the 2025 season. Still, the Wisconsin administration opted to keep Fickell and promised an infusion of NIL capital to help him compete in the transfer portal. The Badgers spent big and are certainly due for some good injury luck. Colton Joseph is a fun addition as a dual-threat quarterback, and five new receivers came in via the portal. The offense basically cannot get any worse, so improvement is nearly guaranteed. Will it be enough to save Fickell’s tenure?
13. UCF Knights
The transition to the Big 12 has not been a smooth one for the UCF Knights. Phil Steele believes there is some hope, and he has UCF listed as the 13th-most improved team nationally. Scott Frost is now in year two of his second stint in Orlando, and there is optimism they can reach a bowl game. As many as four new starters could come from the transfer portal, and Alonza Barnett is an upgrade at quarterback.
14. Auburn Tigers
Phil Steele finishes his list of most improved teams with a trip to the SEC, as the Auburn Tigers are ranked 14th. It is the first season for head coach Alex Golesh as he makes the move from South Florida, and fans are fired up after moving on from Hugh Freeze. Auburn has a promising defense, and the offensive skill players were largely just transported with Golesh. Byrum Brown is an awesome dual-threat at quarterback, and the receivers are exciting. The big question mark for Auburn is whether or not they are ready to hold up in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
1. Liberty Flames
Just three years ago, the Liberty Flames went 13-0 and earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Head coach Jamey Chadwell was a rising star, and it seemed like the Flames were on the verge of becoming the “new Boise State” as a mainstay at the top of the Group of Five. After starting 2024 5-0, the Flames are just 7-11 since. Important context: Liberty lost three straight overtime games to end the 2025 season. Phil Steele believes the program is due for a major turnaround, and he has Liberty listed as his No. 1 most-improved team for the 2026 season. Liberty has more resources than every other Conference USA squad, and the Flames should have a good rushing attack with a loaded running back room. After a couple of seasons of bad turnover luck, that should turn, and if they can find even competent quarterback play, Liberty will be a threat in Conference USA.

Phil Steele Ranks the Top 14 Most Improved Teams in College Football for 2026

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