Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite: Sports outlets, experts predict College Football rankings for 2026

With the 2025 college football season in the books, predictions are starting to roll in for the 2026 campaign. Way-Too-Early rankings are also out, and On3 has compiled predictions from sports outlets and experts for a composite Top 25.

National champion Indiana appeared atop four way-too-early polls after taking down Miami in the title game Jan. 19. The Hoosiers completed a historic run to a championship to finish a 16-0 season although they were rarely picked to win it all during the preseason.

Nine outlets and experts were part of the process: On3, Crain & Cone, ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today, The Sporting News, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports and The Athletic. A point system was used for the composite – 25 points for No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc. Here is the full Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite.

1. Ohio State (210 points, 2 first-place votes)

With 210 points, including two first-place votes, Ohio State tops the Composite Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings. The Buckeyes fell to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals this past year, but have some key players returning in 2026, particularly on offense.

Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin will be back, as will running back Bo Jackson. Ohio State will also have a new offensive coordinator on staff after making a splash, hiring former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith for the role, On3’s Pete Nakos reported.

2. Indiana (204 points, 4 first-place votes)

After winning its first-ever national championship last week, Indiana received four out of nine possible first-place votes. However, the Hoosiers sit second in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite rankings for 2026, six points behind Ohio State.

IU completed a historic turnaround under head coach Curt Cignetti, amassing a 27-2 record during his two seasons at the helm. The Hoosiers are once again active in the transfer portal with the No. 1-ranked class, according to the On3 Team Transfer Portal Rankings, led by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover.

3. Texas (203 points, 1 first-place vote)

After just missing out on the College Football Playoff, Texas took down Michigan in the Citrus Bowl to complete a 10-3 season in 2025. The Longhorns are now looking to reload for a run in 2026, and they got a first place vote as they finished third in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite rankings.

Arch Manning is back for Year 2 as the Texas starter after putting together a strong finish to his redshirt sophomore season. Steve Sarkisian and Co. have also put together the No. 8-ranked portal class, headlined by former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman – the No. 2 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings.

4. Georgia (200 points)

Georgia won the SEC Championship this past season to clinch a bye in the College Football Playoff, but fell to Ole Miss in a quarterfinal-round thriller. Expectations remain high for the Bulldogs in 2026 as they rank fourth in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite.

Gunner Stockton will look to build on his impressive first year as the starting quarterback and a highly rated recruiting class is on the way, as well. UGA also has its running back tandem of Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens coming back, while Chris Cole is also one of the notable returners on defense.

5. Oregon (193 points, 2 first-place votes)

Oregon tied with Ohio State for the second-most first-place votes in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite. The Ducks finished with a 13-2 record in 2025, with both losses coming to Indiana, but got a big boost after the year ended.

Quarterback Dante Moore announced his return despite being considered a top pick in the NFL Draft, meaning he will enter his second season as the starter. While some key contributors are departing, Oregon still has the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class, according to Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Ranking, and a transfer class led by former Minnesota safety Koi Perich.

6. Notre Dame (182 points)

At 10-2, Notre Dame was the first team out of the College Football Playoff and subsequently opted out of a bowl game. But even with star running back Jeremiyah Love heading to the NFL Draft, the Fighting Irish face high expectations for 2026 and are No. 6 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite.

Quarterback CJ Carr is back in the fold and the Irish have a highly rated recruiting class on the way, as well. Notre Dame also added key pieces in the transfer portal as part of a Top-10 class, most notably former Ohio State wide receiver Quincy Porter.

7. Texas Tech (171 points)

After hitting big in the transfer portal, Texas Tech won its first Big 12 title and secured a spot in the College Football Playoff. But the Red Raiders struggled in the quarterfinals in a shutout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl.

However, Joey McGuire’s group is reloading once again, bringing in the No. 2-ranked transfer portal class. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby is the big fish as the No. 3-ranked quarterback to hit the open market this cycle.

T8. Texas A&M (153 points)

Although Texas A&M just missed out on the SEC Championship this past year, the Aggies still clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff. They fell to eventual national runner-up Miami, but there’s still plenty of reasons for excitement around the program in 2026.

Quarterback Marcel Reed is back in the fold after an upward trajectory in 2025. Texas A&M also added key pieces to the roster, including former Alabama receiver Isaiah Horton and former Tennessee cornerback Rickey Gibson.

T8. Miami (153 points)

Tying for eighth with Texas A&M, Miami had a national title in its sights last week. While the Hurricanes fell to Indiana, Mario Cristobal’s group doesn’t plan on slowing down.

Miami has put together strong recruiting classes at both the high school level and in the transfer portal. The Hurricanes recently added former Missouri EDGE Damon Wilson – the No. 6 overall player in the portal – and don’t appear to be done this cycle.

10. Oklahoma (142 points)

Rounding out the Top 10 of the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite, Oklahoma returned to the College Football Playoff this past year. The Sooners fell to Alabama in the first round, but retained some key pieces for 2026.

Quarterback John Mateer is running it back after battling through injury in 2025. Additionally, the OU defense became a strength as Brent Venables took over play-calling, and the Sooners will look to find more success next year.

Way-Too-Early Top 25 Composite: Nos. 11-25

11. BYU (130 points)
12. LSU (116 points)
13. Ole Miss (113 points)
14. Michigan (107 points)
15. USC (101 points)
16. Alabama (91 points)
17. Penn State (57 points)
T18. Utah (51 points)
T18. Washington (51 points)
T18. Louisville (51 points)
21. SMU (50 points)
22. Iowa (42 points)
23. Missouri (33 points)
24. Houston (32 points)
25. Vanderbilt (16 points)

Others receiving votes: Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Florida, Clemson, Illinois, TCU, Arizona, South Carolina, Florida State, Boise State, Arizona State, Oklahoma State

With the national championship and transfer portal window in the rear-view mirror, spring practice will be next as the college football offseason begins. It also means preparations for the 2026 season are about to begin soon.