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Coaches Poll Exposed: Top 25’s Most Overrated & Underrated Teams
Ohio State Tops 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll: Big Ten Claims First Two Spots
ELI5 Summary: Imagine a popularity contest before the school year starts, where football coaches vote on which college teams they think will be the best. Ohio State won the most votes and starts at #1, with Oregon right behind at #2. But here’s the secret—these early guesses are often wrong!
What Is the Preseason Coaches Poll?
Think of this like a pre-season prediction game. Before any games are played, 65 head coaches vote on who they think the top 25 teams in college football will be. It’s like asking teachers on the first day of school which students will get the best grades—sometimes they’re right, but often they’re surprised!
Key Facts About This Year’s Poll
- Released: Tuesday afternoon by USA Today
- Total voters: 65 head coaches
- Teams ranked: Top 25 in the country
- Big news: Big Ten conference has the #1 and #2 teams for the first time in years
The Top 5 Teams
| Rank | Team | Conference | First-Place Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | Big Ten | 38 |
| 2 | Oregon | Big Ten | 6 |
| 3 | Texas | SEC | 7 |
| 4 | Georgia | SEC | 2 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | Independent | 5 |
Important Point: Ohio State received 38 out of 65 first-place votes—that’s more than half! The last time a Big Ten team started at #1 was 2015 (also Ohio State).
Conference Breakdown: Who Has the Most Teams?
SEC — 9 Teams (Most in the Poll)
The Southeastern Conference continues to dominate with nearly half the rankings:
- Georgia (#4) — 9th straight year in top 5!
- Texas (#3), Texas A&M (#8), Oklahoma (#9)
- Ole Miss (#10), Alabama (#11), LSU (#13)
- Tennessee (#18), Missouri (#25)
Big Ten — 8 Teams
- Ohio State (#1), Oregon (#2)
- Indiana (#6) — Defending National Champions!
- USC (#14), Michigan (#16), Penn State (#17)
- Washington (#19), Iowa (#22)
Big 12 — 4 Teams
- Texas Tech (#12), BYU (#15), Utah (#21), Houston (#24)
ACC — 3 Teams (Lowest Since 2011)
- Miami (#7) — Last year’s runner-up
- SMU (#20), Clemson (#23) — Clemson’s lowest preseason rank since 2011
Do These Rankings Actually Matter?
Reality Check: Not really!
Here’s the track record:
- Last year: Only 14 of 25 preseason teams finished ranked
- Year before: Only 12 of 25 appeared in both polls
- Last team to start #1 AND win the championship: Alabama in 2017
Bottom line: This is just a guess. The real season decides everything!
Underrated Teams (Ranked Too Low)
1. #6 Indiana — The Disrespected Champs
- Went 16-0 last year and won the national title
- Lost Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza to NFL Draft (#1 pick)
- BUT: Return 10+ starters + amazing transfer portal class
- Got 14 first-place votes (2nd most!) but ranked only #6
- Why so low? Some think coaches penalized them for Coach Curt Cignetti’s bold talk
2. #10 Ole Miss — SEC Dark Horse
- Has #1 ranked QB (Trinidad Chambliss) + #1 RB (Kewan Lacy)
- New coach Pete Golding won 2 playoff games last year
- Ranked 5th among SEC teams—should be top 3!
3. #24 Houston — Big 12 Sleeper
- QB Conner Weigman + 5-star freshman Keisean Henderson
- Great offensive line, playmakers, and defense
- Coach Willie Fritz = "most underrated coach in America"
- Schedule sets up perfectly for playoff run
Overrated Teams (Ranked Too High)
1. #13 LSU — Too Much Hype?
- Went 7-6 last year (barely winning record)
- New coach (Lane Kiffin), new QB (Sam Leavitt)
- Lost tons of defensive players
- Counterpoint: If unbeaten by October, they’ll deserve top 5
2. #16 Michigan — Mystery Box
- New coach Kyle Whittingham brings discipline
- Big question marks at quarterback
- Brutal schedule — first 5 Power 4 opponents all potential 9+ win teams
- Could be great… or could struggle
3. #23 Clemson — Living on Past Glory
- Last year: Started #6 with 17 returning starters → finished 7-6
- Beat only ONE Power 4 team at home
- New QB + program questions
- Ranking feels like a "thank you" to Coach Dabo Swinney’s career, not this year’s team
Summary: What You Need to Know
| Key Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 Team | Ohio State (Big Ten) — 38 first-place votes |
| Big Ten Dominance | First conference with #1 & #2 since 2015 |
| Defending Champ | Indiana ranked #6 despite 16-0 season |
| SEC Depth | 9 teams in top 25 (most of any conference) |
| Preseason Poll Accuracy | Low — only ~50% of ranked teams stay ranked |
| Teams to Watch | Indiana, Ole Miss, Houston (underrated) |
| Teams to Question | LSU, Michigan, Clemson (overrated) |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. Who votes in the Coaches Poll?
65 head coaches from FBS (top division) schools. They submit their ballots anonymously each week during the season.
2. Why is Indiana ranked #6 if they won the championship?
Great question! They lost their star QB to the NFL, and some coaches may have voted lower due to the new coach’s bold offseason comments. But they got the 2nd most #1 votes (14)—so many coaches do believe in them!
3. Does starting #1 guarantee a championship?
Absolutely not. Only Alabama in 2017 started #1 and won the playoff since the current system began. Most #1 teams don’t even make the final four!
4. What’s the difference between the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll?
The Coaches Poll is voted by coaches. The AP Poll is voted by media members (reporters, broadcasters). They often look similar but can differ.
5. When do the "real" rankings come out?
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings—the only ones that actually determine who plays for the title—start in early November and come out weekly until the playoff teams are set.
Final Thought
Preseason polls are like weather forecasts for next month—entertaining to discuss, but don’t bet your savings on them! The games are played on the field, not on paper. Ohio State starts as the favorite, but as we’ve seen with Indiana last year, anything can happen once the season kicks off.
Mark your calendar: The real fun starts when the games begin. Until then, enjoy the debates, the hype videos, and the endless "my team is underrated" arguments with your friends!
