FAVORITE TEAMS

What’s up everyone! I’m back and in full go for the college football season. So much to expect and so much uncertainty thanks to the transfer portal and NIL. After Indiana’s first ever National Championship season, anything’s possible for any team. The landscape’s changing and some of the usual powers we knew and were consistent with ain’t what they used to be. Heck, Clemson’s nowhere to be found in the Top 25 and Alabama’s looking more human each season we’ve watched them.

When it comes to preseason rankings, it also comes with expectations. Each month, I’ll throw in my Top 25 expectations for each team that’s in there and also include 10 teams that could potentially make the Top 10 by the next month. Be on the lookout for more posts coming soon and y’all have a great day!

25) MISSOURI

The schedule should be cake, but something about Kansas makes you wonder if a landmine was placed specifically for Mizzou. Not sure if Starkville will too, but Mizzou might overlook them into October for Florida.

24) LOUISVILLE

Major tests start soon. Neutral matchup with Ole Miss in Week 1 and SMU in Week 3. Time to find out if the Cardinals are playoff contenders this season.

23) HOUSTON

The Cougars shouldn’t overlook Oregon State, but they have major focus at Texas Tech in Week 3 on Friday night. Maybe the Friday night feel gives them a chance since Tech doesn’t have Brendan Sorsby.

22) IOWA

Unless Iowa State shakes things up, Iowa’s focus is on Michigan. The rankings will tell who has leverage after that matchup.

21) UTAH

Out of the entire September slate, Iowa State might be the big one. But how big is it exactly? Arkansas could make the competition interesting for the Utes too, but how big is that?

20) TENNESSEE

Who are the Volunteers in 2026? Trips at Georgia Tech and hosting #5 Texas will tell everything about them early.

19) SMU

Could SMU find their way back into the college football playoff this season? The majority of their schedule could be a cakewalk, but they focus on road slates at Florida State in Week 1 and Louisville in Week 3 hoping for a CFP return.

18) PENN STATE

The Penn State Nittany Cyclones command September with maybe a tricky situation against Wisconsin. A 4-0 start could make the Big Ten look their way a bit.

17) WASHINGTON

Washington may have a fairly easy schedule if they outplay Washington State and outpace Minnesota. They either go 4-0 or at worst 3-1 or 2-2 before October.

16) MICHIGAN

Seems like Kyle Whittingham’s setup for an early gauntlet. They host Oklahoma for a potential equalizer after losing at Norman last season. Then they turn to Iowa that ain’t lying down for them whether it’s Whittingham or even Nick Saban coaching Michigan.

T-14) BYU

The one game that BYU should circle for September is Arizona. They took them down to the wire last year that nearly removed their unbeaten record prior to playing rival Utah the next week.

T-14) USC

Sooooo…unless Rutgers receiver KJ Duff runs all over USC’s suspected defense, the Trojans march through September until Oregon in the end of September. Rutgers might still make this a trap.

13) ALABAMA

Back in the ol’ Saban days, the September schedule was a cakewalk. Now, we look at Kentucky on the road and Florida State and South Carolina at home. Seems like nothing comes easy for the Tide these days.

12) TEXAS TECH

Tech battles Abilene Christian that nearly blindsided them a couple of seasons ago in overtime. They also travel to Oregon State before hosting Houston. Maybe they don’t get blindsided this time, but how do you not fall for a trap at Corvallis knowing they see Houston next? How do they also fare without Brendan Sorsby?

11) LSU

The Lane Train gets bumpy immediately against Clemson. Then, they’ll experience even more turbulence with a need for potential repairs after crossing paths at Ole Miss. If they have all their wheels intact after, they stop their tracks back in Baton Rouge for a date with rival Texas A&M. Good luck out there, conductor Kiffin.

10) OKLAHOMA

The Sooner Schooner either rides off into the sunset towards October, or their wheels fall off with gauntlet road matchups with Michigan and Georgia. Make sure there’s plenty of glue and string for this ride they’re about to take.

9) OLE MISS

Looks like the post-Kiffin era’s about to experience some turbulence instantly. They’re tested against Louisville in a neutral matchup. Two weeks later, they await Lane Kiffin’s imminent return. The smoke doesn’t clear yet because they travel to the Swamp to face Florida. Ole Miss will either show they are a CFP contender, or their program is short-lived without Lane Kiffin.

8) TEXAS A&M

Very tricky September. If they’re expecting a cakewalk against Arizona State, they better hope their 12th man backs them. They follow up with Kentucky and should clear them if they don’t overlook towards Lane Kiffin’s LSU. Speaking of LSU, hopefully Marcel Reed has improved prior to their trip to Death Valley.

7) MIAMI

Simple September, right? Road games at Stanford and Wake Forest sounds simple enough. But why do I have a feeling that not all seems simple with one of them.

6) INDIANA

Looks like Curt Cignetti will add another winning record to his resume with all 4 home games. After the first 3 games, Northwestern’s an interesting matchup. However, Cignetti’s team tends to obliterate middle of the pack teams too, so add the Wildcats to that list.

5) TEXAS

Texas must do this (but as an OU fan, it’s ok to fail right now). They’re given a week before their third straight gauntlet matchup with Ohio State. Two weeks later, they travel to Knoxville for a rowdy matchup with Tennessee. If they don’t defeat Ohio State, there will be questions in Austin.

4) NOTRE DAME

Outside of maybe a Lambeau Field date with Wisconsin, the September schedule’s cake. However, Marcus Freeman’s 3-5 in the first two weeks of the season. Do we really believe they’ll struggle against Rice? I’ll buy a real owl if Rice upsets Notre Dame (No I’m not buying a damn owl!🤞🏾🦉).

3) GEORGIA

Georgia’s likely running through their schedule up until they host Oklahoma for the first time between the hedges. However, they better tread lightly when overlooking Arkansas.

2) OREGON

Are their traps set for Oregon in September? Boise State competed hard against them two seasons ago. Oklahoma State brings in a batch of North Texas players that won 12 games last season. And then they travel to Pasadena to face a CFP-motivated USC. We’ll see if Oregon is potential championship contenders by October.

1) OHIO STATE

For the first time since their post-championship victory in the first four-team playoffs, Ohio State’s #1 in the preseason polls. Their only matchup to watch is Texas. If they defeat them, no question that they’ll be in the postseason. No question!

10 TEAMS POTENTIALLY IN THE TOP 25 BY OCTOBER

1) TCU

2) NAVY

3) PITT

4) VIRGINIA TECH

5) UNLV

6) JAMES MADISON

7) AUBURN

8) CAL

9) ARIZONA STATE

10) KANSAS STATE