Sports Illustrated Names Jeremiah Smith No. 1 in 2026 Top 25 College Football Players
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 26
Sports Illustrated Names Jeremiah Smith No. 1 in 2026 Top 25 College Football Players
3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 26
Summary
Jeremiah Smith topped Sports Illustrated’s 2026 top-25 player ranking after leading the Big Ten with 87 catches and 1,243 receiving yards for Ohio State last season.
Trinidad Chambliss ranked No. 2 and Leonard Moore No. 3, with the list emphasizing proven stars and returning impact players expected to shape the 2026 title race.
Quarterbacks dominated the upper tier: Julian Sayin came in at No. 5, CJ Carr at No. 7, Dante Moore at No. 8 and Darian Mensah at No. 11 after a 34-touchdown season at Duke.
Transfers and return decisions also drove the rankings, including Miami addition Mensah, Texas receiver Cam Coleman, LSU tackle Jordan Seaton and Oregon edge Matayo Uiagalelei staying in school.
The ranking spans contenders across the country—from Ohio State, Ole Miss and Notre Dame to Indiana and BYU—framing 2026 around players with both elite production and major preseason expectations.