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Ranking all 138 college football FBS teams heading into 2026 season
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- Notre Dame is ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank, highlighted for its talent, coaching, and motivation to win its first national championship since 1988.
- Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, and Indiana complete the top five, with Ohio State and Indiana representing the Big Ten alongside Notre Dame.
- The Big Ten and SEC dominate the rankings, combining for 15 of the top 25 teams in the initial 2026 re-rank.
- Notre Dame’s roster improvements include skill players like running back Aneyas Williams and a strong transfer class, despite needing to fill key positions lost from last season.
- Boise State is the only Group of Six team in the top 25, while the lowest-ranked Power Four teams include Purdue, Boston College, Stanford, and Colorado; North Carolina is ranked No. 94 entering Bill Belichick’s second season.
