Preseason Top 10: Davis’s Surprising Picks
ESPN’s veteran analyst Rece Davis has released his highly anticipated preseason top 10 for the 2026 college football season, a list that immediately sparked conversation among fans and commentators alike.
Top of the list sees the Notre Dame Fighting Irish perched at No. 1, a placement that reflects both the program’s recent momentum and the confidence of the six AP Poll voters who ranked them first.
Close behind, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers — both recent national champions — occupy the second and third slots, underscoring the Big Ten’s continued dominance in Davis’s eyes.
The fourth and fifth positions go to the Miami Hurricanes and the Oregon Ducks, respectively, giving the ACC and Pac‑12 early representation that many had not expected.
The highest‑ranked SEC team, the Georgia Bulldogs, lands at No. 6, a spot that Davis says reflects his measured optimism toward the conference despite a generally cautious outlook.
While the SEC as a whole receives a modest endorsement, Davis’s rankings elevate several Big 12 programs, notably Houston and Arizona, who appear in his top 20, while he pushes Texas A&M and LSU down five spots from their actual AP Poll positions.
The analyst also notes that Notre Dame, after missing the College Football Playoff last season, returns a wealth of talent, a factor that helped secure the top vote among his peers.