College Football Spring Rankings 2026: CFN Top 25
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It’s harder than ever to come up with the college football top 25 rankings before spring practice starts.
The transfer portal has destroyed depth chart projections, and forget about figuring out the exact returning starters for each team.
Several months out, we make a few wacky calls – please don’t gasp at 25 – but we think we have a good handle on things.
Who are the 25 best teams in college football? Let’s go.
CFN Spring 2026 Top 25 College Football Rankings
25 UCLA
It’s early, so let’s make one wild, wacky call – yes, we’ll wait and see how spring ball goes. No, it won’t be THAT, but former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney did bring over a whole slew of very good transfers, just like some guy in Bloomington …
No one is replicating Indiana. However, there’s a nice base around Nico Iamaleava, and the new guys really are good.
2025 Record: 3-9
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 53
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 60
Top Transfer In: Sammy Omosigho, LB Oklahoma
Top Transfer Out: Andre Jordan Jr., CB to Auburn
2026 Realistic Expectation: A good bowl and a few big upsets
– 2026 UCLA Schedule Analysis
24 Kansas State
Lost in the fog of a stunningly mediocre season was how good the Wildcats were supposed to be. New head man Collin Klein will infuse some pop to an offense with the speed and talent to attack.
The Cats have to march. They didn’t control the tempo, the clock, or get first downs. That’s about to change.
2025 Record: 6-6
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 28
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 48
Top Transfer In: Wendell Gregory, EDGE, Oklahoma State
Top Transfer Out: Tob Osunsanmi, EDGE to Indiana
2026 Realistic Expectation: Big 12 title mix and top-tier bowl
– 2026 Kansas State Schedule Analysis
23 Missouri
The Tigers still have to prove they can beat the good teams, but they should be a blast around RB Ahmad Hardy. They’re here with the assumption that all that great talent through the portal will work right away.
Seriously, Mizzou – win something big. It didn’t beat anyone last year that finished with a winning record.
2025 Record: 8-5
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 19
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 28
Top Transfer In: Cayden Lee, WR Ole Miss
Top Transfer Out: Damon Wilson II, EDGE to Miami
2026 Realistic Expectation: Hang around the CFP mix late
– 2026 Missouri Schedule Analysis
22 Utah
It’s a redo year in several ways under new head coach Morgan Scalley, but star quarterback Devon Dampier returns to make the remodel go a little easier.
Utah couldn’t stop the run? If the Ute run defense becomes a brick wall after a bad season, Scalley will have a good first year.
2025 Record: 11-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 14
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 14
Top Transfer In: Braden Pegan, WR Utah State
Top Transfer Out: Smith Snowden, CB to Michigan
2026 Realistic Expectation: Big 12 Championship appearance
– 2026 Utah Schedule Analysis
21 South Carolina
Could this be the Gamecock team we thought we were getting last year? QB LaNorris Sellers is back for another run, and there’s a whole lot of talent in place on both sides of the ball to be far more explosive.
Sellers will make the offense move. Third down conversions were nonexistent, and the team was last in the SEC in first downs.
2025 Record: 4-8
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 24
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 56
Top Transfer In: Jacarrius Peak, OT NC State
Top Transfer Out: Boez Stanley, C to Purdue
2026 Realistic Expectation: Be this year’s Ole Miss
– 2026 South Carolina Schedule Analysis
20 Iowa
It’s Iowa. The ground game will be great, the defense will be a rock, and the team will be a pain in the butt in all the 16-14 games you can watch. The incoming pass rushers are tremendous.
Iowa’s not changing now under Kirk Ferentz. The downfield passing game still won’t exist. Even so, it’ll be hard to replace QB Mark Gronowski.
2025 Record: 9-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 25
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 18
Top Transfer In: Lance Ingold, EDGE Northern Illinois
Top Transfer Out: Koen Entringer, S to Louisville
2026 Realistic Expectation: Get to ten wins and be in the CFP hunt
– 2026 Iowa Schedule Analysis
19 Penn State
Imagine Iowa State, only with a lot more talent and resources. Matt Campbell kept enough players around to be okay, and he’s bringing in close to 20 Cyclones – the good ones – to get everything up to speed.
Campbell is walking into a pressure cooker. Everyone will say all the right things about a grace period. That will end right after kickoff against Washington State.
2025 Record: 7-6
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 1
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 34
Top Transfer In: Rocco Becht, QB Iowa State
Top Transfer Out: Chaz Coleman, WR to Tennessee
2026 Realistic Expectation: Knock on the CFP door
– 2026 Penn State Schedule Analysis
18 Arizona
With quarterback Noah Fifita returning, along with a sneaky-good haul of decent transfers, the veteran Cats should push for a spot in the Big 12 Championship. Head coach Brent Brennan has settled into the gig.
Arizona’s lines have to shine. The skill guys are good, but the offensive line has to pass protect, and the D line must hit the quarterback.
2025 Record: 9-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 55
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 22
Top Transfer In: DJ Jordan, WR USC
Top Transfer Out: Marquis Groves-Killebrew, CB to Cal
2026 Realistic Expectation: Big 12 Championship appearance
– 2026 Arizona Schedule Analysis
17 Washington
It was dramatic, but the Huskies kept star quarterback Demond Williams Jr. After a few years of reloading, Jedd Fisch has a nasty team in place, starting with what should be one of the Big Ten’s best defenses.
The lines have to get tough. Just a little improvement in the pass protection and pass rush, and look out.
2025 Record: 9-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 27
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 17
Top Transfer In: Kolt Dieterich, OT Sam Houston
Top Transfer Out: Deven Bryant, LB to USC
2026 Realistic Expectation: One of the Big Ten’s top bowl games
– 2026 Washington Schedule Analysis
16 Michigan
Somehow, Michigan is an unknown X factor coming into the season. Kyle Whittingham kept most of the top guys, and he brought in some stars from Utah, but he needs the passing game to work right away.
Seriously, the passing game. It was a disaster in 2024 and wildly inefficient last season. As long as it’s functional, the Wolverines will be players in the Big Ten chase.
2025 Record: 9-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 11
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 16
Top Transfer In: Smith Snowden, CB Utah
Top Transfer Out: Justice Haynes, RB to Georgia Tech
2026 Realistic Expectation: Beat Ohio State
– 2026 Michigan Schedule Analysis
15 BYU
There wasn’t any respect last year, even though the only losses were to Texas Tech. This year’s team will grab what it wants thanks to a huge run in the portal and rising star Bear Bachmeier back at quarterback.
BYU got hosed just as much as Notre Dame did by the CFP. The spotlight will be brighter, and these Cougars will perform.
2025 Record: 12-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 45
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 11
Top Transfer In: Cade Uluave, LB Cal
Top Transfer Out: Max Alford, LB to Michigan
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the Big 12 Championship
– 2026 BYU Schedule Analysis
14 Texas A&M
It’ll be a bit of a step back after the CFP season, but the Aggies restocked the shelves through the portal and get QB Marcel Reese back. The A&M lines will always be good under Mike Elko.
Pick the Aggies, but that’s not really a plus. Texas A&M threw 14 interceptions and came up with just three.
2025 Record: 11-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 12
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 9
Top Transfer In: Isaiah Horton, WR Alabama
Top Transfer Out: Theo Melin Ohrstrom, TE to SMU
2026 Realistic Expectation: Get back to the College Football Playoff
– 2026 Texas A&M Schedule Analysis
13 Ole Miss
The main man is back. Trinidad Chambliss got the ruling he needed, but this isn’t the same team as the one that got to the CFP Semis. There’s still enough in place – even if Lane Kiffin isn’t – to have another big year.
It won’t be Trinidad and the other guys. The defense has to be far more consistent, but it should be even better.
2025 Record: 13-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 21
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 5
Top Transfer In: Carius Curne, OT LSU
Top Transfer Out: Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE to LSU
2026 Realistic Expectation: Beat LSU in the SEC opener
– 2026 Ole Miss Schedule Analysis
12 USC
The Trojan starting 22 – after some key gets from the portal – can hang with anyone. The depth might need some work this spring, but the young talent on both sides of the ball is elite. Now Lincoln Riley has to win with them.
It’s USC. The new receivers will be great. Losing Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane hurts, but this is the year QB Jayden Maiava should take things to another level.
2025 Record: 9-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 16
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 15
Top Transfer In: Terrell Anderson, WR NC State
Top Transfer Out: Devan Thompkins, DT to Alabama
2026 Realistic Expectation: Get to the College Football Playoff for the first time
– 2026 USC Schedule Analysis
11 Alabama
Honestly, this is a it-HAS-to-work-at-some-point spring ranking. Last year’s team wasn’t that good – for Alabama – and it got to the final eight. The defense will carry things for a while, but it’s Kalen DeBoer. His attack will be fine.
The defense was better than it seemed, but the ground game wasn’t. Averaging 104 yards per game wasn’t okay.
2025 Record: 11-4
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 3
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 12
Top Transfer In: Terrance Green, DT Oregon
Top Transfer Out: James Smith, DT to Ohio State
2026 Realistic Expectation: Get to the CFP Semifinals
– 2026 Alabama Schedule Analysis
10 Texas Tech
Now that the Red Raiders know how to win, here come the replacements. Trey White (SDSU) will be a monster pass rusher, and quarterback Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati) is a step up. There’s no slowing this train down.
Now the program knows how to win. It never did that before at a high level. 2025 was nice, 2026 will be serious.
2025 Record: 12-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 22
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 7
Top Transfer In: Brendan Sorsby, QB Cincinnati
Top Transfer Out: Braylon Rigsby, DT to Oklahoma State
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the Big 12 again and win at least one playoff game
9 Texas
Arch Manning started to kick it in late last year. There will be a running game to help him out, and the defense that was so good last season will be all kinds of dominant – this bunch will be super-fast.
Texas is going Hollywood. The blah ground attack will be far better with transfer Hollywood Smothers (NC State).
2025 Record: 10-3
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 2
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 8
Top Transfer In: Cam Coleman, WR Auburn
Top Transfer Out: DeAndre Moore, WR to Colorado
2026 Realistic Expectation: Play for the national title
– 2026 Texas Schedule Analysis
8 Oklahoma
Watch for the Sooners to be under the national radar early on – it won’t get the publicity with all the big SEC storylines – but with QB John Mateer back and improvements made through the portal, the O will be back in Oklahoma.
There’s no D in Oklahoma, but … the nation’s third-ranked run defense, and the SEC’s No. 1 scoring defense will be a monster again.
2025 Record: 10-3
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 13
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 13
Top Transfer In: Trell Harris, WR Virginia
Top Transfer Out: Sammy Omosigho, LB to UCLA
2026 Realistic Expectation: Get to the CFP semifinals
– 2026 Oklahoma Schedule Analysis
7 Miami
The Hurricanes should keep this all going and show staying power in an okay-not-amazing ACC. Duke’s Darian Mensah steps in at quarterback for what should be a devastating offense.
Can Miami finally win an ACC Championship? Lost in all of last year’s fun is that the program still hasn’t won one of those.
2025 Record: 13-3
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 10
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 3
Top Transfer In: Darian Mensah, QB Duke
Top Transfer Out: Raul Agguire Jr. LB to NC State
2026 Realistic Expectation: Play for the national title after (finally) winning the ACC
– 2026 Miami Schedule Analysis
6 LSU
You might not like it, and you’ll have to hold your nose, but Lane Kiffin really is that good, and now he has a team full of superstar transfers and next-level players to compete for the national title immediately.
This Kiffin guy knows a little something about offense. LSU was 122nd in yards per completion and 124th in rushing. That will be fixed fast.
2025 Record: 7-6
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 8
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 32
Top Transfer In: Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State
Top Transfer Out: Carius Curne, OT to Ole Miss
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship after ripping through the SEC
– 2026 LSU Schedule Analysis
5 Georgia
The transfer portal haul wasn’t flashy, but that’s because the team returns loaded. QB Gunner Stockton leads a veteran bunch that should be more explosive and far more dangerous.
The Bulldogs have to get into the backfield. Georgia had a problem with tackles for loss. That’s about to change.
2025 Record: 12-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 6
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 6
Top Transfer In: Amaris Williams, EDGE Auburn
Top Transfer Out: Dominick Kelly, CB to Ohio State
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship and take back the role as the nation’s dominant program
– 2026 Georgia Schedule Analysis
4 Notre Dame
Last year’s team was good enough to win it all, and it didn’t get the CFP chance. This year’s bunch loses the stars in the backfield, but it’s a better overall team than the one that lost the national title in 2025.
Purdue transfer Spencer Porath. He needs to save a kicking game that – because of injury – didn’t make a field goal over the last six games.
2025 Record: 10-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 5
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 10
Top Transfer In: Tionne Gray, DT Oregon
Top Transfer Out: Kenny Minchey, QB to Kentucky
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship (preferably over an ACC team)
– 2026 Notre Dame Schedule Analysis
3 Indiana
Really? You don’t think Curt Cignetti can keep it all going? It’ll be impossible to get the same level of situational dominance out of this year’s team, but the transfers poured in, plenty of veterans are still around, and yeah, this thing is for real.
How do you replace historic legends? Fernando Mendoza was magical, and last year’s team was obviously special. No pressure, new QB Josh Hoover and the new guys.
2025 Record: 16-0
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 18
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 1
Top Transfer In: Nick Marsh, WR Michigan State
Top Transfer Out: Hosea Wheeler, DT to Baylor
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship while being called “the new Alabama”
– 2026 Indiana Schedule Analysis
2 Oregon
Dante Moore would’ve been an easy top-five pick in this year’s draft. He’s back, along with a loaded team that should have even more of an attitude after a second straight ugly CFP exit. If you’re looking for the top program with the most fire and desperation, this should be it.
It’s not just about the big wins. Oregon hasn’t lost to a team that didn’t at least play in each season’s national championship since 2022
2025 Record: 13-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 7
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 2
Top Transfer In: Koi Perich, S Minnesota
Top Transfer Out: Tionne Gray, DT to Notre Dame
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship, and beat Indiana and Ohio State along the way
– 2026 Oregon Schedule Analysis
1 Ohio State
Ohio State was the No. 1 team at the end of the regular season, and yet 2025 didn’t represent the program’s best work. No one can touch the Buckeye superstars on offense, and the defense just brought in an NFL Combine’s worth of transfers to take over.
Last year, Ohio State was almost forgotten about over the second half of the season with its relatively easy slate.This year? At Texas, Illinois, at Iowa, at Indiana, at USC, Oregon, at Nebraska, Michigan. (The 2026 season can’t get here fast enough.)
2025 Record: 12-2
CFN 2025 Preseason Rank: 4
CFN 2025 Final Rank: 4
Top Transfer In: James Smith, DT Alabama
Top Transfer Out: Quincy Porter, WR to Notre Dame
2026 Realistic Expectation: Win the national championship (and beat Michigan)
– 2026 Ohio State Schedule Analysis
– CFN 2026 Teams Ranked 26 to 50 coming next
This story was originally published by College Football News on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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