RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAfter the conference media days got everyone interested in college football again, the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll from USA TODAY kicks the excitement into another gear. It's a fascinating preseason top 25 (the entire list is at the bottom) as the chunk of coaches who vote provide a snapshot of where all the top teams stand. From the importance of where the SEC teams are ranked to the growing divide among the power programs and the rest of the pack, here are our five thoughts on the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll.
5 Thoughts on the 2026 College Football Coaches Poll
CFN Preseason Rankings
CFN Preview: All 138 Teams
College Football Schedule Breakdown
5. Overrated Teams
Georgia at 3 It's hardly egregious, but the defense still has to prove it can get into the backfield, the offense has to show more explosion, and the team has to prove that it really is better than the high-powered Big Ten squads. (CFN preseason rank: 5) Georgia 2026 Team Preview SMU at 20 It's interesting how much the coaches like what's being put together in Dallas. This is a respect ranking after a few great ACC years, but the team itself is more fringe top 25, not a solid 20. (CFN preseason rank: 32) SMU 2026 Team Preview Clemson at 23 It's Dabo Swinney, and it's Clemson, so it's an easy call to fill out the top 25 with this ranking, but the Tigers are rebuilding a bit after a rough year that was supposed to be when the magic all came back. (CFN preseason rank: 29) Clemson 2026 Team Preview
4. Underrated Teams
Nov 23, 2019; Evanston, IL, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach PJ Fleck takes the filed with his team in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn at 34 The defense is still great, the Alex Golesh offense from USF is about to be dangerous, and the Tigers have the pieces to be considered a legitimate top 15 team going into the season - even if the final record might not reflect that thanks to a nasty schedule. (CFN preseason rank: 15) Auburn 2026 Team Preview Kansas State tied at 52 It received just one top 25 vote at 25 - this won't last long. The Wildcats needed more of a tweak than an overhaul, and under new head coach Colin Klein will quickly be a bigger factor in the Big 12 . (CFN preseason rank: 23) Kansas State 2026 Team Preview Minnesota no votes No, it's not a top 25 team going into the season, but Drake Lindsey is a legitimate NFL quarterback, and the defense might be PJ Fleck's best yet. (CFN preseason rank: 28) Minnesota 2026 Team Preview
3. The Conference Count in the Preseason Rankings
How much respect did the various conferences get from the coaches? It's more about the big names at this point - it's not like any of the voting SEC head coaches spent the summer doing a deep dive on Utah State - it does reflect the general feeling going into the season. The teams at the end in parentheses also received votes, but weren't in the top 26. SEC - 9 teams: Georgia (3), Texas (4), Texas A&M (8), Oklahoma (9), Ole Miss (10), Alabama (11), LSU (13), Tennessee (18), Missouri (25), ( Florida , South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn) Big Ten - 8 teams: Ohio State (1), Oregon (2), Indiana (6), USC (14), Michigan (16), Penn State (17), Washington (19), Iowa (22). ( Illinois , Nebraska) Big 12 - 4 teams: Texas Tech (12), BYU (15), Utah (21), Houston (24), (TCU, Arizona , Oklahoma State, Arizona State , Kansas State) ACC - 3.5 teams: Notre Dame (5 - it dabbles in the ACC), Miami (7), SMU (20), Clemson (23) No Group of Six program got into the top 25. In order of where they were ranked, here are the Also Receiving Votes teams. American: Memphis, Navy Conference USA : Jacksonville State MAC: Western Michigan Mountain West: UNLV , New Mexico, Hawaii Pac-12: Boise State , San Diego State Sun Belt: James Madison
2. Why the SEC's Big Coaches Poll Showing Matters
Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; A detail view of the SEC logo on a chain marker during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
It's been easy to dunk on the SEC lately after the conference barely showed up over the last three seasons - at least against Power Four teams, and Notre Dame, outside of the SEC - and with the Big Ten taking victory laps. And no, the SEC isn't the dominant force it was a few years ago. Bowl games aren't a proper reflection of a conference's strength, but the CFP appearances and non-conference performances are.
But here's the overall issue. The SEC does drive the conversation because it really does mean more to a conference that doesn't have the same big market, NFL-dominated feel of the Big Ten (for the most part). And because of that, the top SEC games tend to dominate the TV ratings. The SEC plays the games everyone sees, so it's easy for the College Football Playoff committee types - along with everyone else - to be swayed by the emotion of a fantastic battle between high-ranked SEC teams. It's why, this year, the SEC's non-conference games have to be the real indicator of conference strength. Remember how Alabama was overloved last year because of the "gauntlet" of a schedule? The run of games turned out to be nothing special, and in the Rose Bowl, Indiana took a sledgehammer to the hype.
The SEC owned the preseason Coaches Poll with seven teams in the top 13 (Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU), Tennessee at 18, Missouri at 25, and overall, 13 teams among the top 34. So when it comes down to the College Football Playoff ranking time, which conference will get the most respect and the biggest benefit of the doubt? 2025 BYU and Notre Dame would be happy to answer that for you.
1. Let the 2026 College Football Season Begin
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