College football top 25 rankings and playoff predictions for 2026
The 2025 college football season featured the unpredictable.Indiana, the losingest program in the sport’s history, not only won it all, but registered the first 16-0 season in the modern era.Miami reached the title game after failing to win the mediocre ACC.Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss in the midst of the College Football Playoff.So, what does 2026 have in store for us?Indiana and coach Curt Cignetti are looking to build on their magical campaign.Kiffin quickly stockpiled talent at LSU.
Miami returned a ton, and added Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, the ACC preseason Player of the Year, as a strong replacement for Carson Beck.A host of the usual powerhouses — from Ohio State to Notre Dame, Georgia to Oregon and Texas to Ole Miss — are legitimate contenders.The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks it all down in The Post’s preseason Top 25 college football rankings.It’ll be hard to find a better big three on offense than the Buckeyes trio of quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Though the defense, which was ranked No.1 nationally in points allowed a year ago (9.3), was hit hard by the departures of top draft picks Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, the unit remains loaded.
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., linebacker Payton Pierce and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr.have breakout potential, and Christian Alliegro, a Wisconsin transfer, and Florida State safety Earl Little Jr.
were significant additions.Dante Moore passed on one shade of green to stay in another tint of it.There wasn’t a bigger stay-or-go decision in the sport than the Oregon star signal-caller opting to remain in school rather than be a top-three pick and likely join the Jets.
Moore should get plenty of support from a stifling defense that returns All-Big Ten selections A’Mauri Washington, Brandon Finney Jr., Bear Alexander, Teitum Tuioti and Koi Perich.Coach Marcus Freeman shouldn’t have to do much motivating this year — just remindin...