5 Thoughts on the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll: The SEC Makes a Statement

After 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

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

After a way-too-long offseason full of betting scandals, and litigation, and endless talk about saving college sports, and the United States government getting involved, and a world gone mad with fully grown adults being allowed to return to play college football, and seemingly every story about college football being more boring than the last …

We finally get to talk about college football.

I live this full-time, 365 days a year, doing what I do, but I get it. Most sane, rational people don’t get into the fun of the sport until now. With the preseason Coaches Poll out, it finally becomes real.

Now we all get to push the boring stuff aside for a few months and enjoy the debates, the overreactions, the chaos, and the fun of the actual sport of college football.

The college football season is here, and the Coaches Poll just made it official.

And not a moment too soon.

2026 USA TODAY Preseason Coaches Poll Top 25

1. Ohio State 1741 (38)
2. Oregon 1637 (6)
3. Georgia 1591 (7)
4. Texas 1544 (2)
5. Notre Dame 1524 (5)
6. Indiana 1522 (14)
7. Miami 1409
8. Texas A&M 1174
9. Oklahoma 1104
10. Ole Miss 1096
11. Alabama 1050
12. Texas Tech 1034
13. LSU 951
14. USC 838
15. BYU 781
16. Michigan 719
17. Penn State 463
18. Tennessee 428
19. Washington 406
20. SMU 378
21. Utah 313
22. Iowa 291
23. Clemson 235
24. Houston 194
25. Missouri 158

Also Receiving Votes: Louisville 153, Florida 147, TCU 63, Illinois 62, South Carolina 50, Arizona 50, Virginia 40, Vanderbilt 37, Auburn 29, Georgia Tech 26, Boise State 24, Oklahoma State 22, UNLV 17, NC State 13, Florida State 13, Virginia Tech 12, Nebraska 12, Memphis 9, Arizona State 8, James Madison 6, Duke 6, Pitt 4, New Mexico 4, Western Michigan 3, Navy 3, San Diego State 2, Kansas State 1, Jacksonville State 1, Hawaii 1, Cal 1

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