According to USA TODAY Sports’ preseason NCAA Re-Rank 1-138 updated on August 24, 2026, Notre Dame claims the No. 1 spot in college football ahead of the season, edging out traditional heavyweights as programs prepare for an expanded playoff landscape.
Notre Dame Claims Top Spot in Preseason College Football Rankings
The Fighting Irish enter the season atop the rankings with the talent, coaching, and motivation required to capture their first national championship since 1988, according to USA TODAY Sports. While the program faces the challenge of replacing crucial losses in the backfield from last year’s two-deep roster, skill players like running back Aneyas Williams are positioned to step into larger roles. Furthermore, the team has bolstered its depth by securing another strong transfer class.
Big Ten and SEC Dominate the Top 25
The power structure at the top of college football remains heavily concentrated in the Big Ten and SEC, which combine for 15 of the top 25 teams in the debut 2026 re-rank. Following Notre Dame at No. 1, Ohio State holds the No. 2 position. Texas claims No. 3, followed by Oregon at No. 4 and Indiana at No. 5. Rounding out the upper tier are No. 6 Georgia, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 9 Miami, and No. 10 Southern California. Meanwhile, navigating the 2026 schedule brings intense parity driven by the transfer portal, name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities, and coaching changes.
Conference Breakdown Across the FBS Top 25
Beyond the top five, other conferences maintain representation in the initial top 25 rankings. The ACC places three teams on the list, including Miami, No. 15 SMU, and No. 25 Clemson. The Big 12 contributes five programs: No. 12 Texas Tech, No. 14 BYU, No. 20 Houston, No. 21 Arizona, and No. 24 Utah. Boise State stands alone as the lone Group of Six team in the top 25, landing at No. 23 while emerging as the heavy preseason favorite in the newly rechristened Pac-12, according to USA TODAY Sports.
FCS Powerhouses and Bottom-Tier Ranks
The 2026 re-rank expands to cover all 138 FBS teams due to the addition of North Dakota State (Mountain West) and Sacramento State (Mid-American). North Dakota State opens at No. 72 following a dynastic run in the Championship Subdivision, while Sacramento State lands at No. 133. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the lowest-rated Power Four teams include No. 104 Colorado, No. 108 Stanford, No. 112 Boston College, and No. 113 Purdue, with North Carolina sitting at No. 94 ahead of Bill Belichick’s second season.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on early-season non-conference matchups. As teams begin to play regularly within their weight classes following Week 3, we’ll have a stronger idea of which teams could be 2025 Penn State and which could be 2025 Indiana after the Hoosiers had 100-to-1 odds to win the national title in the preseason, only to win it all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ranked No. 1 in the 2026 preseason college football re-rank?
Notre Dame holds the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports preseason NCAA Re-Rank 1-138.
Which conferences dominate the top 25 rankings?
The Big Ten and SEC combine to place 15 teams inside the top 25 of the debut 2026 re-rank.
How many teams are included in the FBS rankings for 2026?
The rankings cover all 138 FBS teams, incorporating new programs like North Dakota State and Sacramento State.
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