Ahead of the 2026 college football season, a USA TODAY Sports re-rank of all 138 FBS teams, published on August 24, 2026, places Notre Dame at the top spot. The Fighting Irish are positioned to contend for their first national championship since 1988, possessing strong talent, coaching, and motivation.
Despite losing key players from last year’s roster, particularly in the backfield, Notre Dame has bolstered its team with a robust transfer class. Running back Aneyas Williams is among the skill players expected to take on expanded roles this season.
Ohio State follows Notre Dame at No. 2, leading a strong contingent of Big Ten teams in the top five. Oregon is ranked No. 4, and Indiana is No. 5. Other teams near the top of the re-rank include Texas at No. 3, Georgia at No. 6, Oklahoma at No. 7, Miami at No. 9, and Southern California at No. 10.
The Big Ten and SEC conferences collectively account for 15 of the top 25 teams in this initial 2026 re-rank. The ACC has three teams in the top 25: Miami, SMU at No. 15, and Clemson at No. 25. The Big 12 features five teams: Texas Tech at No. 12, BYU at No. 14, Houston at No. 20, Arizona at No. 21, and Utah at No. 24.
Boise State is the only Group of Six team to crack the top 25, landing at No. 23 and entering the season as the favorite in the newly named Pac-12 conference. Other notable Group of Six teams include Navy at No. 31, James Madison at No. 33, Western Kentucky at No. 34, and Tulane at No. 35.
Among the lowest-rated Power Four teams are Purdue at No. 113, Boston College at No. 112, Stanford at No. 108, and Colorado at No. 104. North Carolina is ranked No. 94, heading into Bill Belichick’s second season as coach.
The 2026 re-rank includes 138 teams with the addition of North Dakota State, joining the Mountain West, and Sacramento State, joining the Mid-American conference. Sacramento State is ranked No. 133, while North Dakota State, after a dominant run in the Championship Subdivision, opens the year at No. 72.
