SB Nation Ranks 7 Teams as 2026 Title Contenders in College Football
Updated
Updated · SB Nation · Aug 13
SB Nation Ranks 7 Teams as 2026 Title Contenders in College Football
3 articles · Updated · SB Nation · Aug 13
Summary
Seven teams — Miami, Oregon, Notre Dame, Indiana, Texas, Georgia and Ohio State — make SB Nation’s top tier of 2026 national title contenders, with Texas, Georgia and Ohio State labeled the sport’s apparent top three.
Oregon’s returning roster, Miami’s veteran offensive core and Indiana’s bid to build on last year’s title-game run drive that group, while Notre Dame’s ceiling hinges on CJ Carr and Texas still faces the familiar question of whether it is truly back.
A second tier of 6 playoff-caliber teams includes Washington, Utah, Penn State, USC, BYU and Alabama, where coaching pressure surrounds Kalen DeBoer and Lincoln Riley and Penn State’s 24-player influx from Iowa State could accelerate its rebuild.
Another 6 teams — Texas Tech, Michigan, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss — are framed as near-contenders needing quarterback growth, healthier seasons or defensive fixes to break through.
At the bottom, 6 long shots — Boise State, Tennessee, SMU, Houston, Iowa and Louisville — are seen as needing major breaks even to reach the College Football Playoff.