The 2026 college football season is over 30 weeks away, but it’s never too early to look ahead. Rosters are rounding into form, as the deadline to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft has passed and most of the top players in the transfer portal have found new homes.
With that said, we have an early picture of next season’s top CFB squads. Check out our way-too-early college football rankings for the 2026 season, including a breakdown of our top ten teams and payouts for each school to win the national championship, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
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Way-Too-Early 2026 College Football Rankings
Backed by returning talent and additions in the transfer portal, which teams are tracking to excel in the 2026 college football season? Let’s begin with our projected top ten squads in the way-too-early college football rankings.
Team Picks data is live as of writing and are subject to change.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes’ offense will be led by Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, WR Jeremiah Smith, and RB Bo Jackson. Former NFL head coach Arthur Smith was hired as OSU’s offensive coordinator, bringing a potential upgrade to play-calling.
The defense is replacing a load of talent, but the Buckeyes have feasted in the transfer portal, adding DT James Smith (ninth), DE Qua Russaw (63rd), and S Earl Little Jr. (70th) — who rank among 247 Sports’ top 100 transfers.
PrizePicks Team Picks lists OSU as the fourth favorite to win the national championship (6.66x).
2. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks have perhaps CFB’s most notable returning player, as Oregon QB Dante Moore is running it back in Eugene. He was a potential top-three pick for the 2026 NFL Draft, giving UO an immediate 2026 Heisman Trophy contender.
Additionally, Oregon WR Dakorien Moore and WR Evan Stewart form an exciting wideout duo, and Oregon DE Matayo Uiagalalei was another potential high 2026 draft pick who elected to return for another collegiate season.
Replacing its offensive and defensive coordinators will likely be Oregon’s biggest concern of 2026, but this team still boasts supreme talent with a 7.14x payout to win the 2026 national title (fifth favorite).
3. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns’ sky-high expectations from the 2025 season will likely carry over to 2026 thanks to Texas QB Arch Manning and EDGE Colin Simmons returning as supreme NFL-almost-ready talents.
Plus, 247 Sports ranks Texas third in portal commits, led by top-50 transfers WR Cam Coleman (sixth), OT Melvin Siani (26th), and RB Hollywood Smothers (38th). Will Muschamp takes over as the Longhorns’ new defensive coordinator for 2026.
Week 2 of the 2026 season brings another big-time matchup between Texas and Ohio State. The Longhorns are firmly in the national title picture, carrying a 6.25x payout to the CFP (tied as second favorite).
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The 2026 season should feature a hungry Irish squad, including Notre Dame QB CJ Carr and CB Leonard Moore. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and RB Jadarian Price are major departures, but the Fighting Irish bolstered their receiving corps by landing transfer WR Quincy Porter (45th) and WR Mylan Graham (166th).
The defense’s front seven could be special, as DT Tionne Gray (17th), DT Francis Brewu (53rd), and DE Keon Keeley (60th) are notable transfer additions. Plus, incoming freshman DE Rodney Dunham finished eighth in 247 Sports’ 2026 Top Football Recruits.
Notre Dame is expected to contend for a national championship, touting a 6.25x payout to win its first title since 1988 (tied for second).
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana just capped one of the best seasons in college football history, becoming the first team since 1894 to finish 16-0. The Hoosiers are replacing a ton of talent, though, including Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
247 Sports ranks IU seventh in transfer portal rankings, led by WR Nick Marsh (33rd), DE Tobi Osunsanmi (37th), QB Josh Hoover (46th), OL Joe Brunner (54th), and DT Hosea Wheeler (95th).
Boosted by 17 incoming transfers, the Hoosiers have replenished their 2025 championship roster, but will it be enough to go back-to-back? Indiana is the current favorite to win the 2026 national title (5.55x).
6. Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs are flying under the radar, returning a promising nucleus of Georgia QB Gunner Stockton, RB Nate Frazier, and S KJ Bolden.
As two top-50 transfers, WR Isiah Canion (31st) and DE Amarius Williams (36th) lead the portal class. The Bulldogs are replacing five of their top six receivers, including Georgia WR Zachariah Branch.
Georgia landed two transfers to address its biggest weaknesses, but is it enough to contend for a title? It holds a 7.14x payout to win it all (tied as fifth favorite).
7. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion and DE Cashius Howell are notable departures, but the Aggies are still gearing up for a big 2026 season led by Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed.
This offense has questions, such as inserting four transfers into the starting offensive line. WR Isaiah Horton (11th) is the Aggies’ top transfer win, as he could become Reed’s next favorite target.
A&M features a lofty 14.28x payout to win the 2026 national championship (10th favorite).
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
After featuring an elite defense in 2025, the Red Raiders’ strength could shift to the offense in 2026. The unit returns Texas Tech RB Cameron Dickey, RB J’Koby Williams, and WR Coy Eakin. Plus, Tech added QB Brendan Sorsby, who ranks as 247 Sports’ second-best transfer.
On defense, the Raiders are replacing a boatload of talent in the front seven, including Texas Tech DE David Bailey. DT Mateen Ibirogba (10th) and DE Adam Trick (129th) are notable transfers looking to strengthen the 2026 defensive line.
The Red Raiders remain a Big 12 contender and sport a 9.09x payout to win the 2026 national championship (eighth favorite).
9. Miami Hurricanes
Carrying an 11.11x payout to win the next season’s national title (ninth favorite), many are overlooking the Hurricanes for the 2026 season. Miami QB Carson Beck, DE Rueben Bain Jr., and DE Akheem Mesidor are moving on to the NFL.
However, incoming EDGE transfer Damon Wilson II, who ranks as 247 Sports’ eighth-best transfer and third-best EDGE, could help replace Bain and Mesidor. As of this writing, Miami is also favored to land QB Darian Mensah, who sits as the sixth-best QB transfer.
Frankly, this ranking hinges on the Hurricanes landing Mensah. If the Duke transfer moves to Florida, the offense should remain strong with Miami WR Malachi Toney and RB Mark Fletcher Jr. back as key starters.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
Head coach Brent Venables has led great defenses for the Sooners, but he’s yet to crack the code on the offensive side of the ball. Returning Oklahoma QB John Mateer — a potential 2026 Heisman contender — helps Venables’ case.
Plus, the Sooners swung for the fences in the transfer portal by adding WR Trell Harris (76th) and WR Parker Livingstone (92nd), who rank among 247 Sports’ top-25 transfer wideouts. If OU unlocks the run game alongside Mateer, the Sooners can contend in the SEC and even for a national championship (22.22x).
Remaining Way-Too-Early Top 25 College Football Rankings
11. LSU Tigers
12. Michigan Wolverines
13. BYU Cougars
14. USC Trojans
15. Louisville Cardinals
16. Alabama Crimson Tide
17. Missouri Tigers
18. Washington Huskies
19. Utah Utes
20. Houston Cougars
21. Ole Miss Rebels
22. SMU Mustangs
23. Penn State Nittany Lions
24. Boise State Broncos
25. South Carolina Gamecocks
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Make College Football Futures Picks on PrizePicks
Six of the seven national championship favorites come from the Big Ten and SEC, with Notre Dame as the only exception. Will the Fighting Irish crash the party with its first national title since 1988? Who else in our way-too-early college football rankings stands out among the bunch?
Make your college football futures picks on PrizePicks Team Picks. Just go to the PrizePicks app, open Team Picks, pick the player you think will win the Heisman, and earn cash if you're right on your pick.
Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we jump into 2026.
