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Ohio State & Oregon Dominate Preseason Coaches’ Poll
2026 College Football Preseason Coaches Poll: Ohio State Starts at #1
What Is the Coaches Poll? (ELI5 Explanation)
Imagine if all the head coaches of college football teams got together before the season started and voted on which teams they think are the best. That’s exactly what the AFCA Coaches Poll is!
- AFCA stands for American Football Coaches Association
- 72 coaches vote in this poll
- Each coach ranks their top 25 teams
- Teams get points based on where they’re ranked (higher rank = more points)
- The team with the most points is #1
- This happens before any games are played — that’s why it’s called "preseason"
Important: This is just a prediction based on last year’s results, returning players, and new recruits. The real rankings change once games begin!
The Big News: Ohio State Takes the Top Spot
The Ohio State Buckeyes will start the 2026 season as the #1 team in the country according to the coaches. Here’s why this is a big deal:
- 38 of 72 coaches voted them #1 (that’s more than half!)
- It’s the first time since 2015 Ohio State starts at #1 in this poll
- They’re led by two Heisman Trophy contenders — the award for the best player in college football:
- Julian Sayin — Quarterback (the team’s field general who throws passes)
- Jeremiah Smith — Wide Receiver (catches passes and scores touchdowns)
- Last season they went 12-2 (12 wins, 2 losses)
The Complete Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | Team | First-Place Votes | Points | 2025 Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 38 | 1,741 | 12-2 |
| 2 | Oregon | 6 | 1,637 | 13-2 |
| 3 | Georgia | 7 | 1,591 | 12-2 |
| 4 | Texas | 2 | 1,544 | 10-3 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 5 | 1,524 | 10-2 |
| 6 | Indiana | 14 | 1,522 | 16-0 |
| 7 | Miami | — | 1,409 | 13-3 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | — | 1,174 | 11-2 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | — | 1,104 | 10-3 |
| 10 | Ole Miss | — | 1,096 | 13-2 |
| 11 | Alabama | — | 1,050 | 11-4 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | — | 1,034 | 12-2 |
| 13 | LSU | — | 951 | 7-6 |
| 14 | USC | — | 838 | 9-4 |
| 15 | BYU | — | 781 | 12-2 |
| 16 | Michigan | — | 719 | 9-4 |
| 17 | Penn State | — | 463 | 7-6 |
| 18 | Tennessee | — | 428 | 8-5 |
| 19 | Washington | — | 406 | 9-4 |
| 20 | SMU | — | 378 | 9-4 |
| 21 | Utah | — | 313 | 11-2 |
| 22 | Iowa | — | 291 | 9-4 |
| 23 | Clemson | — | 235 | 7-6 |
| 24 | Houston | — | 194 | 10-3 |
| 25 | Missouri | — | 158 | 8-5 |
Note: Six different teams received at least one first-place vote!
Conference Breakdown: Who Has the Most Ranked Teams?
Conferences are like "leagues" that groups of schools play in. Here’s how they stack up in the preseason poll:
- SEC (Southeastern Conference): 9 teams — including half of the top 10!
- Big Ten: 8 teams — the conference that’s won the last 3 national championships
- Big 12: 4 teams
- ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference): 3 teams
Coach Curt Cignetti (Indiana) said: "The Big Ten is the best league in football… It’s hard to win on the road against very physical football teams, very well-coached. It definitely prepares you for the playoffs. The numbers speak for themselves."
Defending Champions Indiana Start at #6
The Indiana Hoosiers made history last season:
- Went 16-0 (perfect season!)
- Won the school’s first-ever national championship
- Beat Miami 27-21 in the title game
But they start this season at #6 because:
- They lost their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza — he was the #1 pick in the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders
- They brought in Josh Hoover from TCU to be the new starting quarterback
- They still got 14 first-place votes — second most in the poll!
Big Moves and Coaching Changes
Several teams have new faces leading the way:
New Quarterbacks
- Miami got Darian Mensah from Duke (ACC rival)
- Indiana brought in Josh Hoover from TCU
New Head Coaches
| Team | New Coach | Previous Job |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Kyle Whittingham | — |
| Penn State | Matt Campbell | Iowa State |
What Happened to Last Year’s Top Teams?
Preseason polls don’t always predict the future! Last season:
- 11 teams that started ranked in the preseason weren’t ranked at the end
- Three top-10 teams from last year’s preseason poll lost 6+ games:
- Penn State (was #3) — fired coach James Franklin
- Clemson (was #6) — lowest preseason ranking since 2011 (now #23)
- LSU (was #9) — let coach Brian Kelly go after 8 games
Lesson: Being ranked high in August doesn’t guarantee success in January!
Key Takeaways
OHIO STATE IS THE TEAM TO BEAT — Starts #1 with two Heisman contenders
BIG TEN DOMINANCE CONTINUES — Won last 3 titles, 8 teams in top 25
SEC DEPTH IS SCARY — 9 ranked teams, half the top 10
INDIANA EARNED RESPECT — Defending champs at #6 with 14 first-place votes
PRESEASON POLLS ARE JUST GUESSES — 11 preseason ranked teams fell out last year
COACHING CAROUSEL SPUN FAST — New coaches at Michigan, Penn State; new QBs at Indiana, Miami
Summary
The 2026 college football season kicks off with Ohio State as the unanimous favorite, leading a Big Ten-heavy top of the poll. The SEC shows incredible depth with 9 ranked teams. Defending champion Indiana sits at #6 after a historic perfect season but must replace a Heisman-winning QB. Several traditional powers (Clemson, LSU, Penn State) enter the year with questions after disappointing 2025 campaigns. Remember: this poll is just a starting point — the real championship race begins when the games are played!
FAQ
What does "first-place votes" mean?
It’s the number of coaches who put that team at #1 on their personal ballot. Ohio State got 38 out of 72 — meaning over half the coaches think they’re the best team.
What’s the Heisman Trophy?
It’s the award given to the most outstanding player in college football each year. Think of it like the MVP award. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith are both considered top candidates before the season even starts.
Why is Indiana ranked #6 if they won the championship?
Preseason polls look forward, not backward. Indiana lost their star quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) to the NFL. Coaches aren’t sure if the new QB (Josh Hoover) will be as good, so they rank them lower despite the title.
What’s the difference between the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll?
The Coaches Poll is voted on by head coaches. The AP Poll is voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters. They often look similar but can differ — especially early in the season.
Do these rankings matter for the playoff?
Not directly. The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee creates its own rankings starting mid-season. But a high preseason ranking helps with perception — if two teams have similar records, the one that started higher often gets the benefit of the doubt.
