The 51 freshmen poised to make an impact on the 2026 college football season - ESPN

The next wave of college football stars is already on campus, and some won't have to wait long to make their mark. You don't have to look far for recent examples. In 2025, Malachi Toney emerged as a freshman star for Miami en route to the College Football Playoff national title game.

These are the freshmen in every conference who are most likely to make an immediate impact in 2026. They are not simply the highest-rated recruits, but the players whose combination of talent, opportunity and team need could influence conference title races and College Football Playoff hopes. From instant starters to emerging playmakers, these are the newcomers to know heading into the season.

Jump to a conference:

SEC | Big Ten/Notre Dame
Big 12 | ACC | Group of 6

1. Jared Curtis, QB, Vanderbilt: Curtis was the top-ranked passer in 2026 and Vanderbilt's highest-rated recruit ever after he flipped from Georgia. While he hasn't been named the starter, Curtis remains the odds-on favorite to win the job this fall. He will have to combat significant expectations, but he has the natural arm talent and comfortable situation under Clark Lea, who signed an extension in November, to flourish in Nashville.

2. Faizon Brandon, QB, Tennessee: Brandon, the No. 14 prospect and third-ranked pocket passer in 2026, must first beat out redshirt freshman George MacIntyre for Tennessee's starting job, but his ceiling is significantly higher. His natural arm strength is a great fit for Josh Heupel's vertical offense and could unlock another gear for Tennessee.

3. Deuce Geralds, DT, LSU: Yes, LSU's defensive line is loaded. Geralds also isn't the highest-rated defensive lineman in LSU's incoming class — that was No. 1 overall prospect Lamar Brown — but he made a