The preseason No. 1 race is already down to a handful of heavyweights, and Ohio State looks like the team sitting in front of the pack.
The Buckeyes led the Coaches Poll with the most first-place votes in the preseason rankings, and the expectation is that AP top 25 voters will likely point them to the top as well. Still, the vote split told the bigger story: there isn’t a clean consensus yet, with five other teams also drawing first-place support.
Georgia belongs in that mix. The back-to-back reigning SEC champions have a path back to Atlanta built around an offense that should be steadier, even if it doesn’t scream fireworks.
Gunner Stockton is back at quarterback, a solid group of backs returns, and the line brings back seven combined blockers with starting experience. On the other side, the Bulldogs usually make life miserable for everyone, and even with some important pieces gone from last year’s defense, they’re still positioned to lead the SEC in most key categories with valuable returners up front and at linebacker.
Indiana’s rise has clearly carried over into the preseason discussion. After Ohio State, the Hoosiers were the clear No. 2 choice for No. 1, collecting 14 first-place votes in the Coaches Poll. That says plenty about the respect Curt Cignetti has built after a 16-0 national championship run, even with some notable departures from that loaded roster.
The offense has a sturdy answer at quarterback in TCU transfer Josh Hoover, and he won’t be asked to do it alone. Indiana brings back one of the nation’s best receiver groups and what could be the best returning offensive line in college football. Defensively, there’s a lot still in place too, with six tacklers back from a unit that allowed fewer than 12 points per game last season.
Oregon is another team with a real shot to make noise at the top. Texas held the preseason No. 1 spot for the first time in school history last year, and the Ducks could be next to write that kind of history. They return a loaded roster featuring quarterback Dante Moore and defenders Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander.
There is one obvious question mark: the offensive line has three new starters. But Oregon has enough talent around Moore at receiver and running back to keep the offense dangerous, and the defense still has the kind of pieces that make a national title run feel legitimate.
Notre Dame enters the conversation with its own strong case. The Irish lost star rushers Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, which is no small thing, but CJ Carr is back at quarterback after a strong showing, and he’ll have a promising receiver group that can stretch defenses vertically.
Defensively, Chris Ash is in his second year as coordinator, and the back end looks especially strong. Leonard Moore leads a secondary that ranked 10th in college football in scoring and finished with the fourth-most interceptions in FBS last fall.
Texas also has a lane to the top again. Last preseason marked the first time the Longhorns opened at No. 1, and two coaches still had them there this time around. That top spot didn’t last long after the Week 1 loss at Ohio State, but Arch Manning’s response to that rough start, plus the portal additions Texas made, keep the Longhorns in the title picture.
Cam Coleman, who came over from Auburn, could end up being the most important transfer at wide receiver, while Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown should be major additions in the backfield as Manning settles into the offense again.
And then there’s the matchup everyone is already circling. Texas and Ohio State could meet in Week 2 in a game that might be No. 1 against No. 2, though that part remains unknown. What is known is that it should be a top-five showdown, and the winner in Austin would have a strong chance to leave the weekend as the new No. 1, just like Ohio State did after beating Texas last season when the Buckeyes were No. 3 and the Longhorns were on top.
Ohio State still has the kind of star power that can tilt the entire picture. Jeremiah Smith remains the player many believe is the best in college football, and he could be the engine of the offense again. But Matt Patricia has some defensive gaps to fill, and the Buckeyes are staring at a tougher schedule in 2026.
So the race is wide open, but only for a very small club. The preseason No. 1 is going to come from a short list - and Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Texas are all firmly in the hunt.
In Other News...
Oregon Freshman Is Already Turning Up Heat In Loaded Receiver Battle
Oregons receiver room is already crowded for the 2026 season, with Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart, Jeremiah McClellan and transfer Iverson Hooks all in the mix for targets. Into that group steps Jalen Lott, the former five-star freshman who has started to make noise in fall camp before ever taking a college snap. For a position room that already has established talent, that is enough to make the early reps worth watching.
Lotts upside has become part of the conversation around the Ducks as camp unfolds, and the buzz has not been limited to the practice field. Chris Hampton has singled out the freshmans potential, and the attention has only grown as clips and highlights from camp have circulated. The question now is not whether Lott has talent, but how quickly that talent can translate into a real role once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon May Already Have Its Next Answer At Left Tackle
Fox Craders outing against USC offered Oregon a useful glimpse at what the left side of its offensive line could look like down the road. When the Ducks needed a backup tackle to step in, Crader handled the moment well and helped the offense keep moving, a development that stood out to offensive line coach Alique Terry as a meaningful confidence builder for the young lineman.
Crader has already shown in practice that he can hold up against top defensive talent, but doing it in game action is a different test. Oregon has reason to feel good about where that may lead, especially with Crader expected to take over the left tackle job full time in 2026, even if the biggest question around his rise is still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon In The Hunt For A Massive QB Commitment
Oregon is still in the mix for one of the more intriguing quarterback decisions on the board, with Cass Tech standout Donald Tabron II set to sort through a short list that has also drawn LSU and Texas A&M. The highly regarded Michigan prospect has already built a strong reputation nationally and in his home state, and his early production has only added to the sense that this is a significant recruiting battle for whichever program lands him.
The timing gives the Ducks little room to wait, with Tabron expected to make his college choice on Saturday evening. For Oregon, the appeal is obvious: a chance to add a quarterback with high-end talent and the kind of profile that can shape a class, even if the final answer is still to come. [Read more 🡒]