Top 10 rankings are as difficult to predict as they’ve ever been. With the transfer portal in full effect in college football, teams can quickly change their floors and ceilings overnight. Teams are spending the portal window acquiring 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-year seniors with plenty of experience. From 2024 to 2025, Indiana and Miami went from pretenders to contenders via the transfer portal. Others will now follow a similar strategy.
Who’s returning a lot of starters? Who’s relying on the portal? It’s time to preview some of the expected contenders for the 2026 season.
1. Texas Longhorns
Texas is loading up. The NIL efforts have been in full swing this offseason, with the Longhorns adding some of college football’s top prospects. The portal’s #6 CB Bo Mascoe, #4 RB Raleek Brown, #1 LB Rasheem Biles, #1 WR and #1 overall player Cam Coleman, #3 RB Hollywood Smothers, and #4 OT Melvin Siani have all signed to play for Texas.
This #1 ranking is a bet on Arch Manning to build on the strong stretch of play that he ended this past season with. In the last 8 games of the season, Manning totaled 2,012 passing yards, 20 total TDs, and 2 INTs. If Manning continues this pace, Texas is my early favorite for the national title.
Texas will return starters such as Colin Simmons, Ryan Wingo, Trevor Goosby, Emmett Mosley, Brandon Baker, and Graceson Littleton. All of these players are early candidates to make All-SEC or All-American teams.
2. Oregon Ducks
The Nike money has been flexing its muscles this offseason. In the past few weeks, Oregon has paid three projected 1st-round draft picks to return. Dante Moore, Matayo Uiagelelei, and A’mauri Washington all announced their return to Eugene.
From the transfer portal, Oregon has acquired #4 TE Andrew Olesh, #8 QB Dylan Raiola to serve as the backup, #18 WR Iverson Hooks, #1 S Koi Perich, and #13 DL D’antre Robinson.
With Dante Moore returning for another year of development, Oregon will have college football’s best QB room. The Ducks will return starters such as former #1 WR Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart, Bear Alexander, and Brandon Finney Jr. Oregon will also add the nation’s #2 recruiting class, which includes four 5-star recruits.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Irish have targeted quality over quantity in the transfer portal. They’ve added just seven transfers, but those transfers include 6 players with 90+ ratings. DL Tionne Gray, DL Francis Brewu, CB Jayden Sanders, DE Keon Keeley, WR Quincy Porter, and CB DJ McKinney are all 4-stars in the portal rankings.
Returning as the starting QB will be projected 1st-round pick CJ Carr, who totaled 2,741 yards on 9.4 YPA along with 24 TDs to 6 INTs. Projected starting RB Aneyas Williams averaged 9.3 YPC on 24 carries while sitting behind Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Notre Dame also returns starters such as Jordan Faison, Drayk Bowen, Boubacar Traore, Jaiden Ausberry, Christian Gray, and Leonard Moore. Moore is likely to be the first CB selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Notre Dame will add college football’s #4-ranked recruiting class featuring four 5-star recruits. Based on talent rankings, Notre Dame is likely to have a Top 6 roster next season.
4. Miami Hurricanes
Miami has added the portal’s #4 QB, Darian Mensah. Mensah will be a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy and a likely 1st-round draft pick. Miami is reloading in the transfer portal, adding #6 overall player Damon Wilson, 4-star WR Cam Vaughn, 4-star WR Vandrevius Jacobs, and 4-star S Omar Thornton.
Miami will be returning a plethora of impact players, including a reload on the defensive front. Damon Wilson, Justin Scott, Marquise Lightfoot, Ahmad Moten Sr, and Armondo Blount will make up college football’s best defensive line. Xavier Lucas, Bryce Fitzgerald, Ethan O’Connor, and Zechariah Poyser are players who made impacts in the secondary and are projected to return.
Miami is adding the #1 OT in the 2026 recruiting class, who will likely start at LT or RT. If Miami weren’t facing the task of rebuilding its OL, it would likely rank inside the top 3. The biggest factor for the Hurricanes is the addition of Mensah, who threw for 3,973 yards, 34 TDs, and 6 INTs.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
Unlike most Top 10 teams, Georgia hasn’t been extremely active in the transfer portal. Georgia has added just one or two projected starters. 4-star WR Isiah Canion will push to start at X-WR, and Khalil Barnes will push to start at safety or nickel. Other players, such as Amaris Williams and Ja’Marley Riddle, have been added as high-quality depth pieces.
Georgia will return as much starting production as any contender in college football. Juan Gaston, Drew Bobo, Dontrell Glover, Earnest Greene, Gunner Stockton, Nate Frazier, Lawson Luckie, Gabe Harris, Elijah Griffin, Quintavious Johnson, Raylen Wilson, Ellis Robinson, Demello Jones, KJ Bolden, and Rasean Dinkins all made starts in 2025.
With all of this returning production, you might wonder why Georgia ranks at just #5. Well, I’m not quite sold on Georgia’s passing game. I wasn’t a believer last season, and I’m skeptical once again. Georgia must replace Zachariah Branch and Colbie Young, and Gunner Stockton will need to develop. If the passing game emerges, this could be the nation’s best team. Regardless, Georgia’s starting lineup has as much NFL talent as anyone’s.
6. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana is the polar opposite of Georgia. While the Dawgs will be returning a plethora of starters, the Hoosiers will lose approximately 12-13 starters, including projected 1st overall pick Fernando Mendoza. So, how does this team rank #6 in an early 2026 ranking? Well, I trust Cignetti to fill in the gaps.
In the transfer portal, Indiana has signed 4-star IOL Joe Brunner, 4-star CB A.J. Harris, 4-star EDGE Tobi Osunsanmi, 4-star WR Nick Marsh, and #6 QB Josh Hoover. Almost all of Indiana’s contributing backups will return as well. Billionaire booster Mark Cuban has ensured that Cignetti can sign who he wants.
Indiana will return 3 starters on the OL, including All-American Carter Smith. It will return Charlie Becker at WR, along with Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones at LB. If QB Josh Hoover pans out like Cignetti is hoping, Indiana will be right back in the mix.
7. LSU Tigers
Welcome to the revamped LSU Tigers. If you believe the portal is the way of life in college football, then LSU should win the national title. LSU has signed 5-star QB Sam Leavitt, 5-star EDGE Princewill Umanmielen, 5-star OT Jordan Seaton, two 4-star OL, three 4-star DL, four 4-star WRs, and two 4-star players in the secondary. LSU also added 4-star LB TJ Dottery to play alongside Whit Weeks.
LSU will return 2 starters on the OL, a starter at TE, and sophomore 5-star Dominick McKinley on the DL. Sophomore 5-star DJ Pickett will start at CB, and returning starter Tamarcus Cooley will be at safety. LSU has loaded up in the trenches. The importance of OL and DL was clearly showcased in this year’s national title game.
Oh, and LSU has upgraded from Brian Kelly to Lane Kiffin. Arguably college football’s best play-caller, Kiffin is bringing in his fair share of weapons. As a bonus, LSU managed to retain the #1-ranked RB from the 2025 recruiting class, Harlem Berry, who led LSU’s running backs in YPC. The only factor keeping LSU from the top 5 in this ranking is a lack of continuity. LSU has its most talented team in half a decade.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Speaking of revamping, Alabama has overhauled its offensive and defensive lines. The Tide has added 6 OL and 5 DL from the transfer portal. 4-star IOL Nick Brooks, 4-star DL Terrance Green, 4-star WR Noah Rogers, and 4-star DL Devan Thompkins represent Alabama’s highest-ranked transfers. Other incoming OL, such as Racin Delgatty and Jayvin James, bring a combined 40 starts to the room. Alabama also added sophomore 5-star OL Ty Haywood, who transferred in from Michigan.
Alabama will have a QB competition during the offseason between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack. Mack will be entering his fourth year in Kalen DeBoer’s system, while Keelon Russell is the highest-ranked recruit in Alabama’s history. The most important factor for Alabama will be the running game. The OL has been revamped, but Alabama is sticking with its RBs. AK Dear, Daniel Hill, Ezavier Crowell, and Kevin Riley will lead the charge. Crowell and Dear are former #1 and #2 RBs in their recruiting classes, but the OL must improve for Alabama.
Alabama’s returning production shines in the secondary. Alabama will return all five starters, including projected 1st round pick Zabien Brown and All-SEC safety Bray Hubbard. Sophomore 5-star Dijon Lee will look to break out into college football’s next elite CB. Alabama projects to have college football’s best secondary. Alabama will also return EDGE Yhonzae Pierre, who totaled 8.5 sacks and 34 QB hurries after not starting for 3 games.
9. Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State’s transfer portal woes have hurt the Buckeyes’ depth and competition. Ohio State is losing 34 players to the portal, including five former 5-star recruits and many other Top 50 and Top 100 recruits. The portal has taken most of Ohio State’s depth at WR, including Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham, and Bryson Rodgers. Ohio State is losing 4 projected 1st round picks on defense, including Caleb Downs, who was many people’s best player in college football.
Despite all that, Ohio State’s roster is good enough to rank #9 in 2026. QB Julian Sayin and WR Jeremiah Smith will return. Both are projected All-Americans. Players such as Bo Jackson, Beau Atkinson, Eddrick Houston, Kenyatta Jackson Jr, Jermaine Mathews Jr, Jaylen McClain, and Devin Sanchez are projected to return. The Buckeyes should also return a decent chunk of their OL.
Ohio State will be adding a 4-star TE, 4-star S, 4-star DL, 4-star EDGE, and another 4-star S from the portal. Ohio State dipped into Alabama for 3 players who should start or contribute. Ryan Day announced the hiring of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Ohio State fans are split on this decision, as am I.
10. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma has upgraded its roster throughout this offseason. While more players have transferred out than have transferred in, the Sooners have lost only two 4-stars to the portal and have brought in four. Oklahoma is adding a 4-star TE, 4-star OT, and two 4-star WRs. Oklahoma needed to get better at the skill positions. It has done that by adding these transfers and retaining Isaiah Sategna III, who caught for 965 yards and 8 TDs.
Oklahoma will bring back QB John Mateer, who is entering his second season as OU’s starter. It also brings back OC Ben Arbuckle, who will enter his third season with John Mateer. The Sooners will also return starters such as Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis, David Stone, Taylor Wein, Kip Lewis, Peyton Bowen, and Eli Bowen.
Brent Venables will field one of college football’s best defenses yet again. The big question for Oklahoma is the running game. OU will turn to players like Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock for answers. Even without the running game, this is a college football playoff-caliber team.
Note:
This is not my prediction for the 2026 AP Poll. This is my personal Top 10.
Some honorable mentions include Texas Tech and Texas A&M.
