ESPN has just dropped its College Football FPI rankings for the 2026 season, giving fans an early glimpse of which programs are projected to dominate the upcoming schedule.
The top five spots in the preseason Top 25 are occupied by Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Georgia, a lineup that sets the tone for a competitive year.
Who Made the Top Five?
Ohio State opens the rankings at No. 1, followed closely by Texas at No. 2, Notre Dame at No. 3, Oregon at No. 4, and Georgia rounding out the top five.
Defending national champion Indiana opens the season at No. 6, underscoring the narrow margin between the elite and the next tier of contenders.
Texas, after a disappointing 2025 campaign, rebounds into the top five, bolstered by a revamped offense that now features transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman.
Coleman, who previously starred at Florida State, is expected to add a deep threat dimension to the Longhorns' attack, a development that could reshape their offensive outlook.
Playoff Ambitions
Notre Dame, which fell just short of the College Football Playoff last season, is aiming to translate its preseason momentum into a postseason berth, a goal that has eluded the program in recent years.
How the FPI Works
The Football Power Index, or FPI, quantifies a team's strength by measuring how many points above or below average a program is projected to be, using a blend of past performance, schedule difficulty, and 20,000 simulation outcomes.
Ratings and projections are refreshed daily, ensuring that the rankings evolve as teams progress through the season and as injuries, breakout performances, and schedule changes reshape the landscape.