15 Teams That Won College Football's 2026 Offseason

NCAAF College Football
July 29, 2026
College Football, Florida Gators, Houston Cougars, Indiana Hoosiers, LSU tigers, Miami Fl Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Ole Miss Rebels, Oregon Ducks, Sports, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders, USC Trojans, Virginia Tech Hokies

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College football's long offseason has reached its final stretch for 2026. Less than 35 days remain until Week Zero kicks off, followed by a full slate of games in Week 1. With fall practice for all 138 programs starting over the next 10 days, it's never too early to think about which teams won the offseason with the moves they made to make a run at a conference title or the College Football Playoff

Oregon headlines the list of offseason winners thanks to the return of a couple of key defenders and quarterback Dante Moore, who opted to stay instead of departing early for the NFL. The Ducks and Big Ten rivals Indiana and Ohio State all make an appearance on this list, as they're among the favorites to win the national title. Michigan also earns a spot on this list after hiring Kyle Whittingham. Texas fell short of expectations last season, but coach Steve Sarkisian made several crucial offseason moves to get the Longhorns back in position to return to the College Football Playoff.

Determining the biggest offseason winners is difficult and could include many teams for a variety of reasons. Simply making a coaching change, landing a standout portal class, or retaining talent are all reasons a program could make this list. However, we've narrowed it down to 15 teams with the best offseason.

Contending for the SEC Championship in 2026 seems unlikely for the Gators, but this offseason went a long way toward putting this program back in the mix for playoff bids.

Jon Sumrall was one of the offseason’s top coaching hires and made a quick impact on the ‘26 squad by landing a standout pair of coordinators in Buster Faulkner (offense) and Brad White (defense). Additionally, Sumrall tapped Faulkner’s old team (Georgia Tech) for a potential starting quarterback in Aaron Philo, along with starting center Harrison Moore. The Gators reeled in receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech/Auburn transfer) from the portal to add to a unit already featuring rising stars in Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III. Sumrall also fought off teams to retain running back Jadan Baugh and rising star edge rusher Jayden Woods.

Talent hasn’t been an issue in recent years for the Gators. Sumrall’s track record suggests he will do a much better job of maximizing talent right away.

The Cougars showed significant improvement last year, going from 4-8 in 2024 to 10-3 in coach Willie Fritz’s second season. After an offseason of key additions, Houston is poised to challenge for a spot in the Big 12 title game.

After a breakout ‘25 campaign, quarterback Conner Weigman should have more help next fall after Fritz added running back Makhi Hughes (Oregon) and standout guard Shadre Hurst (Tulane) from the portal. The offensive line received additional reinforcements from Anthony Boswell (Toledo) and Drew Terrill (Miami, Ohio). Receiver Trent Walker (Oregon State) and tight end Patrick Overmyer (UTSA) provide Weigman with more weapons in the passing game. Five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson also signed with the team’s recruiting class, ensuring the long-term outlook under center is bright.

A strong foundation returns on defense with six returning starters, and the unit will get further help from the portal with end Ashton Porter (Oregon) and defensive backs Jalen Mayo (Stephen F. Austin) and Javion White (Tulane).

Repeating as the national champion is a tough assignment for coach Curt Cignetti. However, Cignetti and his staff pushed all of the right buttons this offseason to keep the Hoosiers atop the Big Ten.

TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover is capable of filling the big shoes left behind by Fernando Mendoza. Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh was a key addition to restock a depleted group of pass catchers and is expected to form one of the Big Ten’s top receiving tandems with Charlie Becker. Left tackle Carter Smith — a first-team Athlon Sports All-American for 2026 — also passed on the NFL for another season in Bloomington.

Confidence is high in coordinator Bryant Haines to keep the defense among the best in the nation, especially after a transfer portal haul that included help up front with Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State), Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State) and Josh Burnham (Notre Dame) and in the secondary with AJ Harris (Penn State) and Preston Zachman (Wisconsin) penciled in as key contributors.

Not much went wrong for LSU this offseason. The Tigers won the coaching carousel by hiring Lane Kiffin, landed arguably the No. 1 transfer portal class with help on both sides of the ball, and signed a handful of blue-chip prospects from the high school ranks. Also, Kiffin successfully retained defensive coordinator Blake Baker after he received head-coaching interest from Tulane.

Transfers in quarterback Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (Colorado), defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss) and safety Ty Benefield (Boise State) will all make an instant impact and help Kiffin push the Bayou Bengals into College Football Playoff contention.

Kiffin’s arrival should also jumpstart a lackluster offense. LSU averaged only 22.8 points a game last year.

The Hurricanes should be back in the mix to win the national title again in 2026 after coach Mario Cristobal landed an elite quarterback (Darian Mensah) from the transfer portal. Receiver Cooper Barkate – Mensah’s top target at Duke – followed him to Coral Gables this offseason.

Cristobal also landed key transfers on defense in the form of lineman Damon Wilson II (Missouri) and defensive back Omar Thornton (Boston College).

Five-star true freshman Jackson Cantwell should start right away on the offensive line as the headliner for another standout recruiting haul for the Hurricanes.

The Maize and Blue make this list for one reason: Kyle Whittingham. A late coaching change is never ideal, but the Wolverines salvaged a chaotic period by hiring arguably one of the top 10 coaches nationally.

Whittingham and coordinators Jason Beck and Jay Hill should do a better job of maximizing the roster — which includes promising sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and one of the Big Ten's top offensive lines — than the previous staff did.

Transfer additions in defensive lineman John Henry Daley (Utah) and receiver JJ Buchanan (Utah) should make an instant impact.

It’s no secret last season’s College Football Playoff snub was a massive disappointment for Notre Dame, but coach Marcus Freeman’s squad has all of the right pieces to win the national title this year.

The Fighting Irish return 15 starters, including quarterback CJ Carr, cornerback Leonard Moore, and offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp. Additionally, Freeman passed on NFL interest to continue chasing a national championship in South Bend.

Notre Dame landed fewer than 10 transfers, but the portal haul isn’t light on impact. Ohio State transfers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham boost the receiving corps, while Tionne Gray and Francis Brewu should see significant snaps on the interior of the defensive line. Colorado cornerback transfer DJ McKinney could also nab a starting spot in the secondary.

A top-five recruiting class added even more depth and talent to Freeman’s roster.

Retaining receiver Jeremiah Smith was priority No. 1 for coach Ryan Day, and the Buckeyes accomplished that by keeping college football’s top player in Columbus for his junior campaign.

The retention theme continued with the staff, as Day kept defensive coordinator Matt Patricia after an impressive debut last season. Patricia has a significant rebuild ahead in 2026, but a couple of portal additions — lineman James Smith and edge Qua Russaw (both from Alabama) and defensive backs Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke) will provide an immediate impact.

After having success tapping into former NFL assistants with Patricia, Day went back to the well this offseason and hired former Falcons head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the team’s new play-caller. Smith’s background should help Ohio State’s rushing attack evolve to combine with Day’s lethal passing attack. The additions of receiver Devin McCuin (UTSA) and tight ends Mason Williams (Ohio) and Hunter Welcing (Northwestern) restocked a receiving corps that lost standout receiver Carnell Tate and tight end Max Klare. Five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr. headlines a standout recruiting class and should contribute right away this fall to alleviate some of the pressure on Jeremiah Smith.

A full reset is coming to Stillwater in 2026. Long-time coach Mike Gundy was dismissed during the ‘25 campaign, with rising star Eric Morris picked from North Texas to lead the next era of Oklahoma State football.

In addition to Morris’ arrival, the Cowboys hit the portal hard for help to rebuild a roster that went 1-11 last year. Among a haul of more than 50 players from the portal were a handful of offensive standouts with Morris at North Texas, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and receiver Wyatt Young.

Assuming Morris can find the right mix on the line to protect Mestemaker, and the defense is able to deliver marked improvement after giving up 33.3 points a game in ‘25, Oklahoma State has the offensive firepower to make a run in the Big 12.

Related: Big 12 Predictions for 2026

New coach Pete Golding’s tenure is already off to a good start after he guided the program to two playoff victories following Kiffin's departure to LSU.

However, Golding also scored two massive victories on the retention front by convincing quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy to return to Oxford in ‘26.

The Rebels also landed another standout transfer portal class to address voids on the offensive line and at receiver. Golding’s defense should also take a step forward this year after adding help at all three levels from the portal, including linebackers Keaton Thomas (Baylor) and Luke Ferrelli (California/Clemson).

The Ducks’ place on this list was solidified when quarterback Dante Moore passed on the NFL Draft for another season in Eugene. Moore is among the nation’s top signal-callers, and his return positions Oregon for a run at its first national championship.

Moore’s return isn’t the only reason for optimism for coach Dan Lanning. A handful of key defenders — Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, A'Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti — also opted to return instead of an early departure to the NFL.

Lanning also filled a couple of key needs through the portal, including safety help from Minnesota’s Koi Perich.

The only downside to the offseason? Lanning had to replace both coordinators after offensive play-caller Will Stein left to be the head coach at Kentucky, and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi took over at California.

The Longhorns failed to live up to their preseason hype last year with a 10-3 record and no trip to the College Football Playoff. However, coach Steve Sarkisian made the necessary adjustments this offseason to get Texas back in the 12-team field.

Retaining quarterback Arch Manning after a strong finish to 2025 was huge for the Longhorns’ title hopes, and he was joined by standout left tackle Trevor Goosby in passing on the NFL Draft. Sarkisian added playmakers from the transfer portal to give Manning more weapons, including receiver Cam Coleman (Auburn) and running backs Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (USC). Also, a couple of pickups from the portal improved the overall depth and talent on the offensive line.

Sarkisian wasn't satisfied with merely a solid level of play on defense. Instead, he took a big swing by firing coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski in favor of SEC veteran Will Muschamp. A couple of transfers will also help on this side of the ball, including linebacker Rasheem Biles (Pitt) and cornerback Bo Mascoe (Rutgers).

Brendan Sorsby’s departure was a setback, but the Red Raiders addressed several key needs this offseason to chase another Big 12 title and a deeper run in the College Football Playoff.

Coach Joey McGuire restocked a standout defense by landing reinforcements up front, including Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest), Adam Trick (Miami, Ohio) and Trey White (San Diego State). Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine should rank among the top linebackers in the Big 12 this fall.

New quarterback Will Hammond has plenty of firepower at his disposal, as Kenny Johnson (Pitt), Malcolm Simmons (Auburn) and Jalen Jones (Alabama State) arrive from the portal to replenish the receiving corps. Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. and offensive lineman Howard Sampson also passed on the NFL for another year in Lubbock.

Factor in a top-15 recruiting class that included five-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo, and it’s easy to see why Texas Tech still had a strong offseason despite its quarterback drama.

Is 2026 finally the year coach Lincoln Riley guides USC to a spot in the College Football Playoff? The Trojans must navigate a tough slate in the Big Ten, but Riley pushed all of the right buttons this offseason.

After coordinator D’Anton Lynn departed to take the same position at Penn State, Riley hired veteran coach Gary Patterson to call the defensive signals. Also, former Nebraska assistant Mike Ekeler was a key pickup to address special teams.

USC also has one of the highest percentages of returning production, with quarterback Jayden Maiava and a standout offensive line set to lead the way in ‘26.

The transfer portal class provided help at all three levels on defense, including cornerback Jontez Williams (Iowa State), linebacker Deven Bryant (Washington) and linemen Alex Vansumeren (Michigan State) and Zuriah Fisher (Penn State). NC State transfer receiver Terrell Anderson will help to alleviate the loss of Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL. USC reeled in the No. 1 recruiting class to bolster the roster even more in ‘26.

With player retention, coaching staff changes, and additions through the portal and high-school ranks, USC appears to have all of the pieces in place for a playoff run this year.

The Hokies made one of the offseason’s top coaching hires by landing James Franklin. Although Franklin’s stint at Penn State ended in his dismissal, he’s a great fit for Blacksburg and should push this program back into contention for a spot in the ACC title game in the near future.

Virginia Tech also returns the most starters (13) of any team in the ACC this season. Add in transfer quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (Penn State) and a couple of other portal additions on both sides of the ball, and Franklin already has the right ingredients in place for a quick turnaround from last year’s 3-9 mark.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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15 Teams That Won College Football's 2026 Offseason

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