Early 2026 College Football Rankings: Josh Pate's Top 25 Predictions

Early Top 25 Rankings for 2026

• 💡 Josh Pate presents his "way too early" top 25 rankings for the 2026 college football season, emphasizing these are not power ratings but predictions based on current team status in February.
• ⚠️ The rankings are acknowledged as highly fluid due to ongoing coaching changes, roster adjustments, and transfer portal activity.

Teams Ranked 25-11

• 📌 Washington is ranked 25th, with uncertainty surrounding the coach's situation.
• 🎯 Louisville sits at 24th, a consistent range for Jeff Brohm's teams.
• 📊 Vanderbilt is at 23rd, with questions about the freshman quarterback.
• 📈 Iowa is 22nd, noted for its consistent bowl game appearances.
• 🌟 Missouri at 21st and SMU at 20th show a slight buy-in to SMU's potential.
• 🏈 Utah is 19th, Houston at 18th, and Michigan at 17th.
• ❓ Ole Miss is ranked 16th, with a significant asterisk due to the unknown status of their quarterback.
• 🚀 Penn State is placed at 15th, banking on coaching stability and improved roster.
• 🏆 BYU is 14th, recognized for its strong winning percentage over the last five seasons.
• 🏈 Alabama is 13th, with potential upside despite current uncertainties at quarterback and offensive line.
• ⚡ Texas Tech is 12th, noted for its strong portal acquisitions and program stability.
• 🧐 USC is ranked 11th, with faith in Lincoln Riley's ability to improve the defense and overall roster, despite coordinator changes.

Top 10 Predictions and Analysis

• 🌟 LSU is placed at 10th, with expectations of potential ascent to a top-five team status later in the season, bolstered by strong coordinators and portal talent.
• 🏆 Oklahoma is ranked 9th, considered a consistent playoff-caliber program with returning experience.
• 📈 Texas A&M is at 8th, highlighting their top-tier talent acquisition and the potential for quarterback improvement.
• 🥇 Georgia is 7th, a high-floor team that has consistently won the SEC despite not always being at their vintage best.
• 🏈 Miami is 6th, with potential upgrades at quarterback and strong coaching in key areas like the offensive line and defensive line.
• 🥈 Oregon is 5th, seen as a year away from its best version, contingent on player health and returning talent.
• 🥉 Ohio State is 4th, a program with immense experience, NFL-caliber coaches, and an extremely high floor.
• 🚀 Indiana is surprisingly ranked 3rd, with strong trust in the program's DNA, portal acquisitions, and coaching staff.
• 🌟 Texas is 2nd, with confidence in Arch Manning's development and significant additions to the running back and wide receiver rooms, plus a strong defensive coordinator.
• 🏆 Notre Dame is the number one team in this early ranking, possessing all desired qualities: a strong quarterback, excellent roster, exceptional staff, and a proven hunger for a championship.