Bob Asmussen's Ridiculously early 2026 Top 10

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Jan. 21—Bob Asmussen sure thinks so.

Our resident college football expert and AP Top 25 voter doesn't believe Curt Cignetti and Indiana are one-year wonders.

Here is his way-too-early Top 10 rankings for next season:

1. Indiana

My rule: Don't fix what has worked 16 times in a row. Yes, Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is off to play for the Las Vegas Raiders, but Curt Cignetti remains the coach and has already landed a stud quarterback, Josh Hoover from TCU. Nobody wants to play the Hoosiers.

2. Notre Dame

During ESPN's coverage of the title game, Irish coach Marcus Freeman picked against the Hoosiers. Hope they meet in 2026. Quarterback CJ Carr will be better and the team is all kind of fired up after being left (properly) out of the CFP.

3. Texas

Am I am really going to fall for this trick again? Why not? In what could be Arch Manning's final season, the hunch here is he will look much more like a Heisman contender than he did in 2025. He's got oodles of help from the transfer portal. Receiver Ryan Wingo might take some of the Heisman support from his quarterback.

4. Ohio State

Speaking of receivers, there isn't one better in the country than Jeremiah Smith, who would have been the first pick in the last two NFL drafts had he been eligible. One more time and he gets to play catch with talented Julian Sayin. Bo Jackson should put up monster numbers at running back. Good news: Illinois visits Columbus.

5. Oregon

Yes, Ducks, you do owe a gift basket to Indiana, which pounced on Dante Moore so convincingly that he had little choice but to return for another year in college. Or, he didn't want to play for the Jets. Curious to see how Oregon will use Dylan Raiola. Major losses at the skill positions were addressed. How well is still to be determined.

6. Georgia

As long as Kirby Smart is in charge, the Bulldogs will be in the hunt for an SEC title and a spot in the CFP. Quarterback Gunner Stockton returns along with tailback Nate Frazier. Smart was able to fill his needs from the portal as the Bulldogs are getting older. The schedule in the SEC is never easy, but Georgia rarely will leave the state.

7. Miami

Mario Cristobal has it rolling. I fully expect to see former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah take over for Carson Beck. The defense is getting hit hard by departures, but the offense welcomes back Mark Fletcher and Malachi Toney, who were outstanding in the title game.

8. Texas Tech

Never going to bet against the Red Raiders again. Even though they got bounced in the CFP quarterfinals, Tech has shown it is a force in the sport. The school landed the top quarterback prospect in the transfer portal, Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby. Tech added receivers and lineman from across the Power Four. The school has the money and is willing to spend it.

9. Oklahoma

Injuries ruined what looked to be a Heisman contending season for transfer quarterback John Mateer. He returns after the team's early CFP exit against Alabama. The Sooners added receiver help from Texas and Virginia. Plus the usual standard recruits making progress. The SEC is deep and talented, but at least offensively, it looks like Brent Venables has a team that can compete.

10. Mississippi

One guy who won't be there: Lane Kiffin. He is off to LSU, which you might have noticed isn't listed in this Top 10. Coach Pete Golding is hoping to have dynamic quarterback Trinidad Chambliss back for another season but will need a court ruling to go the school's way. One player to keep an eye on in Oxford: former Illinois receiver Malik Elzy. Star tailback Kewan Lacy will be a Doak Walker Award favorite.

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