As the preseason AP Top 25 starts setting the tone for college football, a few teams look positioned a little lower than their upside suggests. The rankings are only a starting point, sure, but they do matter. Getting into the preseason mix can make the road to the College Football Playoff a whole lot cleaner than trying to claw your way up later.
Miami, Louisville and Texas Tech all fit that bill.
Miami has the kind of resume and roster that should keep people talking about the top five. The Hurricanes reached the national championship game last season, and they backed that up with major offseason work. The biggest addition came at quarterback, where Duke transfer Darian Mensah gives Miami another dynamic playmaker.
That’s why the Hurricanes feel like more than just a solid preseason name. They have enough talent to compete at the highest level, and the transfer portal additions only strengthen the case. Based on the ceiling this roster carries, Miami’s ranking may not fully capture what it could become.
Louisville is in a similar spot, even if the path looks a little different. The Cardinals came painfully close to changing their season last year, dropping three conference games by one possession. That kind of margin leaves plenty of room for what-ifs, and it also hints at how close Louisville was to being part of the ACC title race.
With another year of growth and experience, the Cardinals look ready to take a step. If those tight losses swing the other way, Louisville could move into the ACC Championship Game picture and even start making noise in the College Football Playoff chase.
Texas Tech rounds out the list, and the case here is simple: the Red Raiders still have enough talent to belong in the top 10 conversation, even with quarterback Brendan Sorsby gone. They enter the season as one of the favorites in the Big 12, and there’s real momentum behind the program.
That combination gives Texas Tech a legitimate playoff path if it plays to its level. The Red Raiders have the roster to make a run, and if they meet expectations, they could end up being one of the conference’s biggest surprises.
In Other News...
Louisville Linebackers Could Decide How Good This Defense Really Is
Louisvilles defense already gave the program a respectable baseline last season, finishing inside the top 20 in both yards per game and yards per play even while dealing with injuries. Now the question is less about what the unit can be and more about how high it can climb under new defensive coordinators Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis, with the Cardinals choosing continuity over outside help and leaning on the players already in the building.
Stanquan Clark, TJ Capers and Antonio Watts are all expected to carry significant weight in that effort, and the linebacker room in particular feels like the hinge point for the whole operation. If the returnees and backups can supply the kind of depth Louisville is counting on without any transfer portal additions, this defense could stay sturdy again; if not, the margin for error gets a lot smaller in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Got Real Proof Its ACC Hype Is Legit
Louisville finally has the kind of preseason respect that turns offseason buzz into something more concrete. The Cardinals landed at No. 24 in the 2026 preseason AP Poll, a sign that the national conversation has caught up with what has been building around Jeff Brohms program. Between a strong transfer portal haul and important returning pieces on both sides of the ball, Louisville is being sized up as a real ACC contender instead of just a trendy sleeper.
The ranking also comes with a quick reality check. Louisvilles schedule offers little room to settle in, with early tests against No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 19 SMU waiting right out of the gate. If the Cardinals are going to turn this preseason praise into something bigger, they will have to prove it fast against a slate that can either validate the hype or expose how far there still is to go. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville's Defensive Line Could Carry Jeff Brohm's Defense Again
Louisvilles defensive front enters the offseason with a familiar feel to it, because this has become one of the safest places to look for stability in Jeff Brohms defense. Even with departures and staff changes around the unit, the Cardinals have enough proven pieces back to believe the line can once again be the part of the defense that sets the tone, especially with Clev Lubin and AJ Green headlining the returning group.
The bigger question now is how quickly the next wave fits in around them. Louisville added transfers Tyler Thompson and Jerod Smith II to a room that already has a strong foundation, and the expectation is that the line should still be a strength in 2026 despite the coaching turnover and role changes elsewhere on the staff. If the new faces come along as planned, this could be another season where the Cardinals lean on their front to cover a lot of ground behind it. [Read more 🡒]