The Sporting News releases Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2026 college football season

The 2025 college football season is in the books. Now, with a long offseason ahead, it’s time to turn our attention forward to the 2026 season with a new Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll.

These Way-Too-Early Top 25 Polls can be difficult to put together. After all, thanks to the Transfer Portal, rosters aren’t entirely set just yet. That’s before development and injuries occur during the offseason. Still, it’s a good way to look ahead at expectations for the coming year.

This particular Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll is coming from Sporting News. Of course, there’s bound to be some changes in the Top 25 from here to August when next season starts, let alone next January when the 2026 National Champion is crowned.

1. Indiana Hoosiers

The Indiana Hoosiers did the impossible, or at the very least the improbable, in 2025. They won the National Championship. That came despite being 3-9 in 2023, the year before head coach Curt Cignetti landed in Bloomington.

Now, Indiana is looking to follow up strong on that. Sporting News thinks the Hoosiers have a good chance too. They’ll open in the top spot of the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State was ranked first in the AP Poll for most of the 2025 season. However, when the postseason came around, the Buckeyes fell short. So, it’s back to the drawing board for next season.

Sporting News has Ohio State at No. 2 on the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. That’s with several massive names returning on the offensive side of the ball, like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Add to that the way the Buckeyes accumulate talent and it makes a lot of sense to see them so high.

3. Georgia Bulldogs

The top-ranked SEC team in the Sporting News Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll is Georgia. This comes after the Bulldogs won the SEC but fell in the Sugar Bowl during the College Football Playoff. It’s actually the second year in a row that happened.

Next year, head coach Kirby Smart will have plenty of talent to work with on his roster. That starts with quarterback Gunner Stockton, who returns for another season. Add in some new weapons around him and this is an experienced team with massive aspirations.

4. Texas Longhorns

It’s hard to say that Texas lived up to expectations in 2025. The Longhorns were expected to at least get to the CFP, if not compete for a national championship. Then, a 9-3 regular season kept them on the outside looking in.

Expectations are high again in 2026. Sporting News has Texas ranked fourth in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. With new weapons and another year of experience for Arch Manning, it’s hard not to be excited about Texas.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish managed a 10-2 regular season in 2025. That wasn’t enough to get back to the CFP, though. So, head coach Marcus Freeman is now going to need to find a way to solidify his team’s resume this upcoming season.

One thing the Irish don’t lack is talent. In particular, returning quarterback CJ Carr, who should make Notre Dame one of the most consistent teams next season. So, it makes some sense that Notre Dame is ranked No. 5 by Sporting News in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll.

6. Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks suffered their second bad CFP loss in as many seasons in 2025. That’s come on the back of two excellent regular seasons. Now, the Ducks are going to want to find a way over the hump.

That’s certainly possible in 2026, with the return of quarterback Dante Moore and better injury luck. So, Sporting News has them sixth in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. Of course, that’s third among Big Ten schools.

7. Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Texas Tech Red Raiders were one of the surprise teams of the 2025 season. They’d win the Big 12 and go on to the CFP, even earning a bye week. There, the Red Raiders came up short but head coach Joey McGuire knows his team is capable of a deep run.

Texas Tech is coming in at No. 7 in the Sporting News Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. That’s also good to be the top Big 12 team. Of course, the Red Raiders are going to need to hit in the Transfer Portal once again to replicate that success.

8. Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes came up just short in the CFP National Championship Game, with an interception in the final minute. It was a difficult end to an excellent season. Now, the Hurricanes want to find a way to get back to that point, but find a way to win this time.

Sporting News has Miami ranked eighth in its Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. That’s with a few major question marks as the roster turns over. The most notable of those is going to be the quarterback position and finding a way to replace Carson Beck.

9. Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners are coming in at No. 9 in the Sporting News Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll. This is on the heels of a 10-3 season that saw the Sooners go to the CFP. There, Oklahoma fell in the first round at home.

Quarterback John Mateer is returning for another season in Norman. He suffered a hand injury and struggled with consistency in 2025. Assuming he improves, then Oklahoma could have an offense to match its formidable defense next season.

10. Ole Miss Rebels

It was a bit of a strange season for Ole Miss. On the one hand, the Rebels went to their first CFP and made a run to the semifinal. On the other, Ole Miss lost head coach Lane Kiffin to rival LSU ahead of the CFP, replacing him with Pete Golding.

Now, amid roster and coaching turnover, Ole Miss is a bit difficult to judge. Still, there’s plenty of talent in Oxford. So, Spring News has the Rebels in the Top 10 for its Way-Too-Early Top 25 Poll.

Rest of Sporting News’ Way-Too-Early Top 25

11. BYU Cougars
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. USC Trojans
15. Utah Utes
16. Michigan Wolverines
17. LSU Tigers
18. Penn State Nittany Lions
19. Louisville Cardinals
20. Iowa Hawkeyes
21. Houston Cougars
22. Illinois Fighting Illini
23. SMU Mustangs
24. Washington Huskies
25. Vanderbilt Commodores