The 2026 preseason AFCA coaches poll has been released, and Ohio State sits at the top, earning 38 of 72 first‑place votes, marking their first No.1 ranking since 2015.
Conference Landscape
Oregon follows in second place, with Georgia close behind in third, while Texas and Notre Dame round out the top five, and Indiana, the 2025 national champion, starts at sixth.
Former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover will replace Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at Indiana, a move that has added intrigue to the Hoosiers’ title defense.
The poll also highlights the breadth of conference representation, with the Big Ten and SEC each placing eight and nine teams respectively in the initial list, while the Big 12 contributes four and the ACC three.
Six programs received first‑place votes, including Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame, and early rankings are already being reshaped by the unexpected losses of Penn State, Clemson and LSU, each of which saw their coaches dismissed after subpar seasons.