Ohio State, Oregon lead most wide-open preseason Coaches Poll top 25 since 2008
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Ohio State tops the 2026 preseason Coaches Poll, followed by Oregon at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3, Texas at No. 4, and Notre Dame at No. 5, reflecting offseason roster changes and portal transfers.
- Defending national champion Indiana is ranked No. 6 despite replacing Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza, while Miami leads the ACC at No. 7 with significant transfer additions.
- The SEC dominates with nine teams in the poll, including Alabama at No. 11 and LSU at No. 13; the Big Ten has eight teams ranked, while the Big 12 and ACC have four and three respectively.
- Clemson is at its lowest preseason Coaches Poll ranking since 2011, placed at No. 23, highlighting shifting expectations in college football.
- This year’s poll features six teams receiving first-place votes—the most since 2008—though historically, preseason No. 1 teams have often failed to reach the College Football Playoff, with 2017 Alabama the last to win the national title from that spot.
