
Five Underrated College Football Programs Poised to Shake Up the 2026 Season
ESPN's early Top 25 still favors traditional powerhouses, but a handful of programs are emerging as potential underdog stories for 2026
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ESPN's early Top 25 still favors traditional powerhouses, but a handful of programs are emerging as potential underdog stories for 2026

The University of Toledo announces a five‑player transfer class that could reshape the program's depth and future prospects.

Arizona State University's basketball program has secured a commitment from Serbian prospect Filip Malesevic, a 7‑foot‑1 center currently playing for FMP Beograd, while adding experienced transfers Paulius Murauskas and Dillan Shaw. The class, ranked 10th nationally by 247Sports, also retains returning guards Bryce Ford and Vijay Wallace.

The Cowboys are projected as a No. 2 seed in the Starkville Regional, facing Mississippi State and Florida, with recent wins boosting their national ranking.

Northern Arizona University once fielded a Division I hockey team from 1980 to 1986 before budget and ice‑facility cuts ended the program; now alumni and stakeholders are exploring a revival amid a thriving state hockey market.