Indiana, Texas, Ohio State Lead 2026 College Football Rankings

College football fans barely had a chance to catch their breath after the wild ride of the 2025 season before the sport’s talking heads began speculating about what’s next. On January 20, 2026, both CBS Sports and ESPN dropped their way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2026 season, and the headlines are as dramatic as ever. With Indiana riding the high of a storybook national championship and perennial powerhouses like Ohio State, Texas, and Georgia stacking talent, the next campaign is already shaping up to be a thriller.

Let’s start with the biggest shocker of all: Indiana. Yes, that Indiana. The Hoosiers, who not so long ago became the first FBS program to lose 700 games, just capped off a perfect 16-0 season with a 27-21 victory over No. 10 Miami in the CFP National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium. According to ESPN, Indiana’s odds to win it all at the start of the season were 100-to-1. Yet, under coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers not only made history—they shattered it.

"The greatest turnaround in college football history culminated with Indiana winning its first national championship Monday night," ESPN declared. But with glory comes new challenges. Indiana is set to lose a slew of key players, including Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, star receiver Elijah Sarratt, and several other foundational pieces. That’s a tall order for any coach, but Cignetti’s knack for evaluating and developing talent is well documented. Over the past two seasons, the Hoosiers signed an astounding 53 transfers and are bringing in at least a dozen more this year. Among the newcomers, TCU’s Josh Hoover is expected to take over at quarterback, while Nick Marsh (Michigan State) and Turbo Richard (Boston College) add firepower at receiver and running back, respectively. Defensive reinforcements like Tobi Osunsanmi and Preston Zachman should help plug the gaps left by departing stars.

Despite the looming rebuild, doubting Cignetti’s Hoosiers seems foolish at this point. "They've proven they can evaluate, develop and coach better than most," ESPN noted. Still, the Big Ten will be a minefield. Ohio State, last year’s 12-2 powerhouse, returns the sport’s best quarterback-receiver combo in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. CBS Sports was effusive in its praise: "The nation's most accurate passer, Julian Sayin, and the best player in the sport, Jeremiah Smith, return to Ohio State. That's enough to garner consideration for a top-five ranking." But the Buckeyes have their own hurdles—replacing key defensive stars and navigating a brutal schedule that includes road trips to Texas, Indiana, and USC, plus home games against Michigan and Oregon. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, lauded for his 2025 turnaround, will rely on plug-and-play transfers like Earl Little Jr. and Qua Russaw to keep the unit sharp.

Texas, meanwhile, is going all-in. After a 10-3 season that left fans wanting more, the Longhorns are stacking the deck for what could be quarterback Arch Manning’s final collegiate year. Manning, who threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025, will have new toys to play with: Auburn’s Cam Coleman, the No. 1 receiver in the portal, and dynamic running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. "It's playoff-or-bust for the Longhorns in 2026," CBS Sports proclaimed. Texas struggled on the ground last year, ranking 90th nationally in rushing. The return of star tackle Trevor Goosby and the arrival of new offensive linemen are expected to change that. On defense, Steve Sarkisian made a bold move, firing Pete Kwiatkowski and bringing in Will Muschamp, the architect of Georgia’s 2021 and 2022 national titles.

Speaking of Georgia, coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are anything but complacent. The defending SEC champs were the second-youngest team in the conference last year but still managed a 12-2 record and another title. Quarterback Gunner Stockton and running back Nate Frazier are back, but the team must address a defense that struggled to generate negative plays, ranking 122nd in tackles for loss. The Bulldogs reloaded in the secondary, adding Ja'Marley Riddle and Khalil Barnes, and expect young receivers like Talyn Taylor and CJ Wiley to step up. Their schedule is favorable, with only four games outside Georgia’s borders.

Notre Dame rounds out both top fives, hungry after missing the CFP in 2025. Coach Marcus Freeman has made it clear: "Leave no doubt." The Irish lost their top two rushers but will lean on Aneyas Williams, who averaged a jaw-dropping 9.3 yards per carry. Quarterback CJ Carr is expected to make a leap in his second season, especially with transfer receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter joining the fold. Nine of the defense’s top 10 tacklers are back, and the defensive line is bolstered by Francis Brewu and Keon Keeley. The Irish face a tough slate, with Miami and BYU looming as marquee matchups that could define their playoff hopes.

Oregon, not to be outdone, brings back potential No. 1 NFL draft pick Dante Moore at quarterback and welcomes Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola as backup. The Ducks lost both coordinators to head-coaching gigs, prompting Dan Lanning to promote from within. On defense, the return of A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander, plus the addition of freshman sensation Koi Perich, should keep the Ducks in the hunt.

Beyond the top five, the rankings are packed with intrigue. Texas A&M, Texas Tech, BYU, Oklahoma, and USC all boast returning quarterbacks and high-profile transfer classes. Michigan, under new coach Kyle Whittingham, is a dark horse in the Big Ten, while Miami hopes Duke transfer Darian Mensah can spark another playoff run. Lane Kiffin’s LSU project, Alabama’s quarterback battle, and Louisville’s retooled offense under Lincoln Keinholz are all storylines to watch.

And let’s not forget the transfer portal’s outsized role in shaping the 2026 landscape. With 32 new head coaches across the country and hundreds of players on the move, rosters are more fluid than ever. As CBS Sports put it, "Rosters remain unsettled, but the ingredients are on the table waiting to be shaped." Programs like Indiana, Texas Tech, and SMU have leaned heavily on transfers to vault into contention, while traditional powers scramble to fill gaps left by NFL departures and portal exits.

So, what’s next? If the past year taught us anything, it’s that college football is as unpredictable as ever. Will Indiana’s miracle run spark a new era of parity, or will the bluebloods reassert their dominance? One thing’s for sure: With so much talent returning, new faces in new places, and a transfer portal that never sleeps, the 2026 season promises to be a rollercoaster from start to finish.

As the countdown to kickoff begins, fans everywhere are left to wonder: Who will seize the moment and write the next great chapter in college football history?