College Football Coaches Poll: How many games Top 25 teams will play against preseason ranked opponents

In another sign of college football’s imminent return, the USA Today preseason Top 25 coaches poll released Tuesday. With it, the conversation around strength of schedule is taking another turn with rankings on the way.

When looking at the schedule, a number of preseason Top-25 teams will square off throughout the 2026 season. In fact, Ohio State will play in two of the highest-profile games of the year against Oregon and Texas – which came in at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in USA Today’s preseason coaches poll.

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All told, the Buckeyes are tied for the second-most preseason-ranked opponents this year, based on the USA Today coaches poll. Here’s a full breakdown of who will face the most teams ranked in Tuesday’s Top 25.

T-24. SMU (1)

SMU is one of two teams ranked in the USA Today preseason coaches poll to have just one opponent in the Top 25. The Mustangs will take on Notre Dame on the road in Week 12 – their final non-conference game of the 2026 season.

SMU came in as the No. 20-ranked team in Tuesday’s preseason Top 25 as the program enters its third season as an ACC member. Quarterback Kevin Jennings is back in the fold after setting career-highs with 3,641 passing yards and 26 touchdowns as a redshirt junior in 2025.

T-24. Texas Tech (1)

After a storyline-filled offseason, Texas Tech will soon get ready to defend its Big 12 title after last season’s run. The No. 12-ranked Red Raiders will also face one team ranked in the preseason Top 25, with Houston as their only opponent ranked in the poll.

All eyes will be on the quarterback position for Texas Tech this season after the Brendan Sorsby situation, which ended with the former Cincinnati transfer losing his eligibility as a result of betting allegations. Joey McGuire told On3’s Pete Nakos that Will Hammond is on track to be ready for Week 1 this year, putting him on track to start under center.

T-18. BYU (2)

As BYU looks to follow up last year’s Big 12 championship game appearance, the Cougars also come in at No. 15 in the USA Today coaches poll. They will also face two Top 25-ranked teams, headlined by a matchup against Notre Dame this season.

BYU just missed out on the College Football Playoff a season ago with a 12-2 overall record, but key pieces are coming back. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin are both returning, as is head coach Kalani Sitake after Penn State pursued him for its vacancy.

T-18. Clemson (2)

It’s shaping up to be a big year for Dabo Swinney and Clemson in 2026 after a rough go last season. The Tigers ranked No. 23 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll and will face two opponents also i the Top 25.

Clemson’s quarterback competition will be a major storyline through training camp. While Swinney has already said Christopher Vizzina currently has the upper hand, he will continue to go up against Tait Reynolds ahead of the season opener against LSU.

T-18. Houston (2)

Houston is coming off an impressive Year 2 under Willie Fritz in 2025, finishing with a 10-4 record. With their quarterback staying put, the Cougars came in at No. 24 in Tuesday’s USA Today preseason coaches poll.

Conner Weigman is running it back at Houston after throwing for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago. UH will now get ready to take on a schedule that includes two teams also ranked in the preseason rankings.

T-18. Miami (2)

Following last year’s run to the national title game, Miami checked in at No. 7 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll. The Hurricanes will have a new face under center once again this season with Darian Mensah coming over after leading Duke to an ACC Championship in 2025.

Miami also has top contributors Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney coming back on offense after serving as key parts of that journey to the championship. As Mario Cristobal’s group looks to get back, the Hurricanes will face two teams ranked in the preseason poll, including a rematch against Notre Dame.

T-18. Utah (2)

It’s a new era for Utah in 2026 after Kyle Whittingham stepped down and ultimately made his way to Michigan. Morgan Scalley is now in as head coach of a Utes program ranked No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll.

Despite Whittingham’s departure, as well as offensive coordinator Jason Beck, Utah retained Devon Dampier at quarterback after his breakout campaign. Utah will now get ready to take on a schedule that has two preseason Top-25 opponents in the coaches poll, led by the rivalry affair against BYU.

T-16. Iowa (3)

Although Iowa is still trying to figure out its quarterback situation in 2026, the Hawkeyes still found themselves in the USA Today preseason coaches poll. They checked in at No. 22 in the rankings and will face three preseason-ranked opponents, as well.

Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes are still trying to get clarity on who will start under center this year, and he admitted last week that he doesn’t yet know who’ll get the nod. It’s an old-school battle in Iowa City as Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski vie for the QB1 spot.

T-16. Notre Dame (3)

After missing out on the College Football Playoff last season, Notre Dame’s mantra has been to “leave no doubt” in 2026. The Fighting Irish checked in at No. 5 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll o Tuesday as they enter the year with high expectations once again.

Quarterback CJ Carr is back in the fold after progressing throughout his first year as the starter while Leonard Moore is returning to anchor the secondary. While Notre Dame will have a new-look backfield, the Irish will get ready for a schedule that includes three preseason Top 25-ranked teams in the coaches poll.

T-16. Penn State (3)

A high-profile coaching search led Penn State to hire Matt Campbell as its next headman, and the bar is set in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions came in at No. 17 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll as they turn the page with a new chapter.

A number of former Iowa State players re-joined Campbell at Penn State, including quarterback Rocco Becht. The Nittany Lions will now prepare to face three teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, including what could be an interesting matchup against USC.

T-11. Alabama (4)

Last year, Alabama made its first College Football Playoff appearance under Kalen DeBoer, but the 2026 season will be a crucial one for the third-year head coach. The Crimson Tide checked in just outside the Top 10 of the USA Today preseason coaches poll and will face four teams also ranked entering the season.

As training camp begins, the quarterback competition between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack will be the biggest storyline in T-Town. Of course, the offensive line will also be a unit to watch after it underwent major changes over the offseason.

T-11. Georgia (4)

Like Alabama, Georgia will also face four teams ranked in the USA Today preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 3 in Tuesday’s rankings as they look to stay atop the SEC once again after winning the conference championship game a season ago.

UGA got quarterback Gunner Stockton back after he progressed throughout his first year as the starter. The defense is also likely to be stout once again under head coach Kirby Smart, with safety KJ Bolden coming back to anchor that group.

T-11. Indiana (4)

Last year, Indiana put together a historic run to a national title with an undefeated record to complete a two-year turnaround for Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers found themselves at No. 6 in the USA Today coaches poll on Tuesday as they look to repeat, and they will face four teams that also appeared in the Top 25.

IU will again have a number of new faces in town as Cignetti and the staff leaned on the transfer portal. The headliner is quarterback Josh Hoover, who will now take over under center after Fernando Mendoza became the top pick in the NFL Draft.

T-11. Oregon (4)

With Dante Moore back at quarterback in 2026, Oregon is once again facing high expectations. The Ducks came in as the No. 2-ranked team in Tuesday’s USA Today preseason coaches poll, sitting behind only Ohio State for the top spot.

Moore is the headliner among the returners this year, but Oregon has top receivers Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart back while adding Koi Perich to replace Dillon Thieneman on defense. Following last year’s College Football Playoff berth, the Ducks will face a schedule that has four teams also ranked in the preseason Top 25.

T-11. Tennessee (4)

It’s shaping up to be an interesting year on Rocky Top as Tennessee goes through an old-fashioned quarterback battle. Still, the Vols came in at No. 18 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll as they look to improve on an 8-5 record a season ago.

Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre are battling for the starting quarterback job after Joey Aguilar ran out of eligibility after the 2025 season. Whoever wins the competition will get ready to take on a schedule that includes four teams also ranked in the preseason coaches poll.

T-7. Missouri (5)

After a 5-0 start in 2025, Missouri went 3-5 the rest of the way as part of a tough end to the season. But the Tigers will have a new face under center this year and came in as the No. 25 team in the USA Today coaches poll.

Austin Simmons has made his way to CoMo after spending last year at Ole Miss, where he suffered an injury early in his time as the starter. Mizzou will now get ready take on a schedule that includes five teams also ranked in the preseason Top 25.

T-7. Ole Miss (5)

Though he officially took the reins ahead of the College Football Playoff last year, Pete Golding’s first full season as Ole Miss head coach will officially begin in just a few weeks. The Rebels enter the 2026 campaign as the No. 10-ranked team in the USA Today preseason coaches poll and will face five teams that also appear in the rankings.

Even after Lane Kiffin’s high-profile departure, Ole Miss has a number of key pieces returning, notably on offense. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy are both coming back as new coordinator John David Baker calls the shots.

T-7. USC (5)

It’s an important year for Lincoln Riley at USC, but his confidence was clear at Big Ten Media Days. The Trojans will enter Week 0 squarely in the Top 25 of the USA Today preseason coaches poll, checking in at No. 14 in Tuesday’s release.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava is back after a strong 2025 season – his first full year as the starter. USC will also get ready to face five teams preseason-ranked teams, according to Tuesday’s poll, with Oregon as perhaps the most notable opponent in Week 4.

T-7. Washington (5)

Washington had an interesting offseason as Demond Williams declared his intention to enter the transfer portal before ultimately choosing to stay in Seattle. His return was crucial for Jedd Fisch and the Huskies, and they ranked No. 19 in the USA Today coaches poll.

Williams is one of the notable returners for UW this season, but the wide receiver room will have a new look with Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman off to the NFL. The Huskies will now get ready to take on five teams that also appeared in the preseason Top 25.

T-2. LSU (6)

The eyes of the college football world will turn toward Baton Rouge this year as Lane Kiffin starts his tenure at LSU. The Tigers will be one of the biggest storylines in 2026, and they ranked No. 13 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll on Tuesday.

Kiffin continued to use the transfer portal to help build the LSU roster, bringing in a slew of new faces, headlined by quarterback Sam Leavitt. The schedule will also include six preseason-ranked teams, notably No. 4-ranked Texas.

T-2. Michigan (6)

Though there was uncertainty after the sudden firing of Sherrone Moore, Michigan made a splash with its next head coach hire, landing former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. Combine the new staff with quarterback Bryce Underwood, along with talented portal additions, and the Wolverines ranked No. 16 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll.

Underwood will look to take a leap forward after an up-and-down freshman season under Moore in 2025. He and Michigan will also get ready to face six preseason Top-25 teams, with the biggest matchup occurring in the annual rivalry game against Ohio State.

T-2. Ohio State (6)

The No. 1-ranked team in the USA Today preseason coaches poll, Ohio State is also one of the teams getting ready to face six teams that also appeared in the rankings. Despite falling short of a national title repeat last season, the Buckeyes will again be at the forefront of the conversation in 2026.

Quarterback Julian Sayin is back for his second year as a starter with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson returning with him. Of course, there will also be a new coordinator calling the shots with Arthur Smith coming in to take the role under Ryan Day.

T-2. Oklahoma (6)

Oklahoma put together an impressive turnaround last season en route to a College Football Playoff appearance. The Sooners also kept key contributors in place for 2026, which helped them rank No. 9 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll on Tuesday.

Quarterback John Mateer is returning and at full strength once again, and OU got linebacker Owen Heinecke back after an eligibility fight. He will continue to pair alongside Kip Lewis as the Sooners tackle a schedule that includes six teams also ranked in the preseason poll.

T-2. Texas A&M (6)

The 2025 season was a big one for Mike Elko and Texas A&M, leading to high expectations in 2026. The Aggies checked in at No. 8 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll as they set their sights squarely on a national title this coming year.

Texas A&M has quarterback Marcel Reed back in the fold after a strong first full season as the starting quarterback and he’ll have a key playmaker returning in wide receiver Mario Craver, as well. The Aggies will also face six preseason Top-25 teams, led by the rivalry affair against Texas to close things out.

1. Texas (7)

With seven Top-25 teams on the schedule, Texas will have the most opponents ranked in the USA Today preseason coaches poll. That includes No. 1-ranked Ohio State in Austin as part of the return game of last year’s grind-it-out matchup.

With Arch Manning returning at quarterback and Colin Simmons back to anchor the pass-rush, the Longhorns went to work this offseason to bolster the roster. Wide receiver Cam Coleman was the big splash, bringing a big-time target to pair alongside Ryan Wingo on the outside.

Training camps are starting across the country as the 2026 season quickly approaches. Week 0 will also begin Aug. 29, meaning college football is just a few weeks away from its return after a long offseason.