2026 preseason college football Power Rankings - ESPN

After an offseason full of congressional hearings, eligibility lawsuits and a high-profile gambling scandal (I'm sure I missed something), the 2026 college football season finally kicks off when North Carolina plays TCU in Dublin on Aug. 29 (noon ET on ESPN).

The games can't get here soon enough.

For the first time since Indiana took down Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T on Jan. 19, coaches (and not judges) will finally decide who can take the field.

And the NCAA won't be the only ones taking weekly losses.

Ohio State is No. 1 in ESPN's preseason Power Rankings, followed by No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Texas.

The Buckeyes will attempt to win their second CFP national championship in the past three seasons and become the fourth straight Big Ten school to win the title.

That hasn't happened since SEC teams did it from 2019 to 2022.

And despite what you might have heard during this long, hot summer, SEC schools are still playing college football.

2025 record: 12-2, 9-0 Big Ten

With quarterback Julian Sayin, tailback Bo Jackson and receiver Jeremiah Smith returning, the Buckeyes are loaded on offense. Ryan Day has to replace eight starters on defense, including four who were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. With road games at Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC and home contests against Oregon and Michigan, Ohio State will have to navigate its way through one of the most difficult schedules in the FBS.

2025 record: 12-2, 8-1 SEC

With the Bulldogs following SEC titles with quarterfinal exits in the CFP the past two seasons, coach Kirby Smart's team might be flying under the radar. Quarterback Gunner Stockton should be better in his second