The 2026 US LBM College Football Coaches preseason Top 25 poll is set to be released on August 4, marking the first public snapshot of how the upcoming season’s power structure may look.
For Ole Miss, the poll will be especially consequential because it arrives as the Rebels step into their first year under head coach Pete Golding, a coach who guided the team to a College Football Playoff semifinal just a year ago.
The Road Ahead for the Rebels
Returning quarterback Trinidad Chambliss gives the offense a familiar anchor, while a wave of transfer portal acquisitions adds depth and experience that could push the Rebels back into the national conversation.
The schedule presents a tough slate, with marquee matchups against Louisville on September 6, LSU on September 19, and later tests against Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, all of which could influence the Rebels’ final ranking.
When the poll drops, it will be accompanied by live analysis from a panel that includes Blake Toppmeyer, Matt Hayes, John Brice and Paul Myerberg, streamed on USA TODAY Sports’ YouTube channel at 11 a.m. CT.
Analysts caution that while Ole Miss is expected to crack the preseason Top 25, a Top 10 placement remains uncertain, but the excitement around the program’s trajectory is undeniable.