Ohio State leads the way in preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The 2026 college football season is almost upon us, and we now have the first preseason poll to sink our teeth into.
The initial preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released on Tuesday, and the Ohio State Buckeyes come in at No. 1. Ryan Day's team was one of only two squads to receive double-digit first-place votes (38), the other being reigning national champion Indiana.
However, despite receiving 14 first-place votes, the Hoosiers did not crack the top five. They came in at No. 6, behind No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas and No. 5 Notre Dame.
Elsewhere in the top 25, last year's national runner-up, Miami, ranks No. 7. Lane Kiffin's LSU squad sits in the top 15, while another pair of teams who struggled last season, Clemson and Penn State, also found themselves ranked.
Here's the full preseason top 25 in the coaches poll.
2026 Preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
| Rank | School (Record) | Points | Last Season's Rank | 1st Place Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State (12-2) | 1,741 | 6 | 38 |
| 2 | Oregon (13-2) | 1,637 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | Georgia (12-2) | 1,591 | 5 | 7 |
| 4 | Texas (10-3) | 1,544 | 13 | 2 |
| 5 | Notre Dame (10-2) | 1,524 | 11 | 5 |
| 6 | Indiana (16-0) | 1,522 | 1 | 14 |
| 7 | Miami, FL (13-3) | 1,409 | 2 | – |
| 8 | Texas A&M (11-2) | 1,174 | 8 | – |
| 9 | Oklahoma (10-3) | 1,104 | 10 | – |
| 10 | Mississippi (13-2) | 1,096 | 3 | – |
| 11 | Alabama (11-4) | 1,050 | 9 | – |
| 12 | Texas Tech (12-2) | 1,034 | 7 | – |
| 13 | LSU (7-6) | 951 | NR | – |
| 14 | USC (9-4) | 838 | 21 | – |
| 15 | BYU (12-2) | 781 | 12 | – |
| 16 | Michigan (9-4) | 719 | 22 | – |
| 17 | Penn State (7-6) | 463 | NR | – |
| 18 | Tennessee (8-5) | 428 | NR | – |
| 19 | Washington (9-4) | 406 | NR | – |
| 20 | SMU (9-4) | 378 | NR | – |
| 21 | Utah (11-2) | 313 | 14 | – |
| 22 | Iowa (9-4) | 291 | 17 | – |
| 23 | Clemson (7-6) | 235 | NR | – |
| 24 | Houston (10-3) | 194 | 19 | – |
| 25 | Missouri (8-5) | 158 | NR | – |
Others Receiving Votes
Louisville 153; Florida 147; TCU 63; Illinois 62; South Carolina 50; Arizona 50; Virginia 40; Vanderbilt 37; Auburn 29; Georgia Tech 26; Boise State 24; Oklahoma State 22; UNLV 17; North Carolina State 13; Florida State 13; Virginia Tech 12; Nebraska 12; Memphis 9; Arizona State 8; James Madison 6; Duke 6; Pittsburgh 4; New Mexico 4; Western Michigan 3; Navy 3; San Diego State 2; Kansas State 1; Jacksonville State 1; Hawaii 1; California 1;
Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Ohio State leads the way in preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos